Israel revealed earlier today that its special forces conducted a deep-strike operation in Syria in September 2024 (before the Syrian revolution that led to Assad’s fall), destroying an underground facility designed to manufacture precision-guided missiles for Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist organization. The raid, carried out by over 100 members of the elite Shaldag unit, targeted a production complex in the Masyaf region of Syria.
“Many Ways”
The mission, codenamed “Many Ways”, followed years of intelligence gathering and monitoring by the IDF Intelligence Directorate. Military sources say the facility, which began construction in 2017, was carved approximately 100 meters deep into a mountain, featuring a horseshoe shape with two main exits.
The operation began with preliminary airstrikes on security installations around the facility. Special forces troops were then transported by helicopters, landing approximately 700 meters from the target. The mission received comprehensive support from fighter jets, various aircraft, and naval vessels of the Israeli Navy.
Inside the facility, forces discovered advanced assembly lines for precision-guided missiles and long-range rockets. A key piece of equipment documented during the raid was a planetary mixer, crucial for missile production. The teams collected weapons and intelligence documents before proceeding with the facility’s destruction.
The demolition involved placing approximately 300 kilograms of explosives throughout the complex. Combined with existing munitions at the site, the total explosive force approached one ton.
Iranian flagship project
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi highlighted the facility’s strategic threat before the operation, explaining that it was about to begin producing large quantities of missiles annually. According to military officials, the complex represented an Iranian flagship project aimed at significantly increasing missile supply to Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups in the region.
Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar later remarked that the destroyed facility’s potential output would have threatened numerous Israeli civilian lives. All forces returned to Israeli territory, with support from Unit 669, the Air Force’s search and rescue unit.
The operation represents one of the most significant known Israeli special operations in Syria, demonstrating Israel’s ongoing efforts to counter Iranian military entrenchment in the region, particularly regarding precision missile production capabilities for the Hezbollah terrorist organization.
