On September 8, 2024, 120 Israeli Air Force Force Commandos, Shaldag of Unit 669 raided an Iranian Underground Missile Production Factory. In Syria. Operation, codenamed “Operation Many Ways”, was an outstanding success. All of them being experts in long range Penetration Combat Search and Rescue Operations in or close to Hostile Territory came back in one piece.
Iranian Factory Deep Layer at the said Site, supplied Precision Guided Missiles and Long-range Rockets Factory to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Assad Forces in Syria. As per Israel, extensive surveillance, intelligence gathering and detailed Planning for destruction of site was undertaken prior to this Operation. As per them; Deep Layer was a 350-400 feet underground construction, located 196 kilometres North of Israel Syria Border and 45 kilometres from Coast Line at Masyaf, West of Hama in Syria. Being so deep it was immune to Air Strikes and being so deep inside, Commando Raid was also a daunting task. Factory was a Horseshoe shaped structure. Its entry and exit points were at Mountainside to send in Raw Materials and ship out Missiles/ Rockets. Factory logistics and staff had a Separate Entrance. Weapon Assembly was done in 16 strong rooms. Its construction started in 2017 wherein Missile manufacturing with a target of upto 300 missiles/year, had just began but production of Rocket Engines was in full swing.
Four CH 53D, Yasur Helicopters escorted by two AH 64 Attack Helicopters, ferried 100 Shaldag and 20 Unit 669 Commandos along with six Military Dogs in and out of Syria. 21 Israeli Fighters Aircrafts,14 Reconnaissance Aircrafts and five drones, escorted, reconnoitered and provided protection along in and out routes to this lot. Israeli Naval Ships covered Sea Routes. 30 Fighter Aircraft were on standby in Israel to respond to unforeseen Operational Exigencies.
Six Israeli Helicopters flew low, almost touching the water line in order to escape Syrian Radars/Air Defence System. They went over Mediterranean Sea, far away from coast of Lebanon and crossed over to Syria above her own coastline. Syrian Air Defense Systems around Factory very dense next only to Damascus. Some of AD was nocked out during Raid on Iran in December 24. Helicopter Force crossed Syrian Coastline and reached Factory Site after 18 minutes without being detected by anybody. Israeli Fighter Aircrafts and Naval Guns rained fire on various Syrian Targets including roads in and out of Factory Site as Decoy Deception Measures and prevent any Reinforcement reaching the Target Areas. First two Helicopters landed near Entry Exit Gates and rest two just behind them. 100 Air Commandos quickly got out and moved inside the tunnels leading in Factory.20 Commandos of Unit 669 remained with guarded these stationary Helicopters. Commandos from first Helicopter secured the area,from second Helicopter went inside after breaking through the Entry Point, from third Helicopter took up a position on a nearby Hillock and operated armed Drones which surved the area and eliminated anyone approaching the Factory Site.Fourth Helicoter carried explosives to brake open Heavy Doors inside using nearby Forklifts. Incidentally, few Commandos were trained as Forklift Drivers in anticipation of eventuality. These Commandos used a Quad Bike they had brought with them to move Explosives around Tunnels.
As per Israel Defence Forces briefings later; “50 Commandos planted Explosive Devices and remaining 50 Commandos provide Surveillance and Covering Fire. Escort Fighter Aircrafts continued to hit targets all around including near Factory Site. 660 pounds of Rigged Explosives with Detonators was planted at Entry Point after raid was over. All Participants then moved to original Landing Site and boarded the waiting Helicopters. Immediately thereafter, explosives were Triggered. It took approximately two hours to demolish Factory Site. Israeli Commandos destroyed Critical Machinery used in for manufacture of Precision Missiles and numerous Weapons. Documents worth Immeasurable Intelligence were picked up and transferred Israeli Intelligence Agencies for Investigation, Analysis and Inference. All returned safely to Israeli Territory.”Estimated 42 Guards and Syrian Soldiers were killed. But as per Syrian Media,14 were killed and 43 wounded.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated in these words; ”I salute our heroic fighters for the daring and successful operation deep in Syria. This was one of the most important preventive operations that we have taken against the efforts of the Iranian axis to arm itself in order to attack us; it attests to our boldness and determination to take action everywhere to defend ourselves.
”Operation Many Ways” was executed by Israel when Bashar al-Assad was still a Supremo in Syria. She made it public after Assad was dethroned and fled to Russia. This might be a sample, forewarning of impending/potential operations against Iran and her Proxies in the region. Operation Many Ways underlines Israeli resolve to conduct such Raids to destroy Highly Defended, Deeply Buried sites/ constructions/infrastructures. While executing a similar operation against an underground target in Iran might/would be Complex and Risky;nevertheless; it demonstrates Israeli Capability and Determination to ward off impending dangers by bold actions. During debriefing of “Operation Many Ways”, Israeli Defence Force’s spokeperson reiterated that; “Israel will continue to Act Strategically and Professionally to remove threats directed at the citizens of Israel”.
India is also under similar similar situation/stress against her neighbours. She has shown her resolve in Balakote and Galwan. Can actions, if necessary, at Kahuta, Kamra Chaklala and Sargodha on West and Chengdu Qinling on North well beyond our Borders be a distant dream for India?
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