Israel cripples Syria's air defences in major offensive
The Israel Defense Forces claim to have already destroyed most of the anti-aircraft systems belonging to Bashar al-Assad's regime. In extensive airstrikes, targets also included Syrian weapons factories, chemical weapons production sites, aircraft, and warships.
According to the Israeli command, weapons from the war-torn country that are not destroyed could end up in the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah. An official communication states that the Israeli air force has eliminated about 85 percent of the air defence systems of the Assad regime in Syria, including 107 defence components and 47 radars.
Israel destroys Syrian anti-aircraft systems
Among the attacked and destroyed systems were the Russian Buk and Pantsir-S1, which were considered significant challenges for the Israeli air force. According to the communiqué, the Syrian anti-aircraft defence was one of the strongest in the region, and its neutralisation represents a significant achievement for Israeli forces.
Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound in NATO code) is one of the most modern air defence systems in the world. These systems began entering service only in the 1990s. They use 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles, which can neutralise targets up to 19 kilometres away and moving at altitudes of up to 14 kilometres.
Syrian aviation also targeted
The extensive bombing campaign by Israel, which began a few hours after Assad's downfall, included Syrian air bases, weapons depots, factories, and chemical weapons production sites.
As a result of this offensive, a significant portion of Syrian aviation was also destroyed. Confirmed losses include 27 fighter jets, including Su-22s and Su-24s, and 24 helicopters. There are also recordings of attacks. Additionally, the Israeli navy reported sinking 15 Syrian warships.
The heads of the Israeli army assessed that the military potential of Assad's regime has not yet been completely destroyed. They noted that there is a real threat that the Iranian-backed organisation Hezbollah will attempt to take over all available modern weapons. To prevent such actions, the Israeli air force carried out bombings of most border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, leaving one open. Meanwhile, the Israeli army continuously monitors the bombed areas to ensure that Hezbollah does not attempt to use them again, as reported by the Times of Israel.
