Report: Israel carries out strikes in Syria, kills commander

Israel’s Air Force reportedly carried out several strikes in Syria, killing a commander of a pro-Assad militia.

Arab media reported on Monday that Israel’s Air Force (IAF) carried out several strikes against diversified targets inside Syria.

According to the reports, on Sunday afternoon the IAF struck a target in the Quneitra province, close to Israel’s northern border.

The reports stated that Israeli warplanes, or possibly a drone, bombed a car on the road between the town of Khan Arnabah and Damascus, which damaged the vehicle and killed the driver.

Reports named the driver as Yasser Hussien Assayed, a commander in the National Defense Force, a pro-Assad militia reportedly linked to the Hezbollah terror group. Some reports said he commanded a unit comprised of locals and Palestinians, which was collaborating with Iran, and that Assayed was possibly in the process of planning attacks against Israel.

Israeli strikes against Assad and Hezbollah targets in the Rif Dimashq and al-Qalamoun areas, including a Hezbollah weapons convoy and Syrian military sites, were also reported.

The IDF did not comment.

These reported attacks come just days after Israel carried out a strike against a Hezbollah weapons convoy inside Syria.

An Israeli army statement said Syria had fired several anti-aircraft missiles following the raid, but none hit their targets. One missile was intercepted by Israel’s Arrow air defense system.

Following the incident, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman threatened that Israel would destroy Syria’s air defense system if they attacked IAF planes again.

Speaking at the IDF induction center on Sunday, he said Israel has no reason to interfere in the Syrian conflict, but will operate to stop the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah, largely financed by Iran.

IDF Chief of Staff Lietenant General Gadi Eizenkot, addressing the changeover ceremony for the head of the IDF northern command, also on Sunday, said Hezbollah continues with its efforts to acquire dangerous and accurate weapons intended to harm the Israeli home front. He reiterated Liberman’s commitment to prevent arms transfers to Hezbollah.

Israel has repeatedly vowed to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring game-changing weaponry, warning that any such attempts will be met with a strong Israeli response.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

HezbollahIAFSyria