Intelligence released proving Iranian military involvement in Syria

Released photo intelligence and exposed images demonstrate to the Iranians that Israel knows and understands the Iranian government's intentions in Syria.

APRIL 17, 2018 15:25

Mehrabad airfield in Tehran is used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards unit to ship arms to Syria (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT) — Mehrabad airfield in Tehran is used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards unit to ship arms to Syria

(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

Aerial photos of Iranian bases in Syria were released Tuesday morning showing the scope of the military relationship between the Islamic republic and the Assad regime.

The intelligence includes photographs of a military base in Deir ez-Zor located in eastern Syria. In the photograph, there is proof of Ilyushin planes transporting weapons from Iran to Syria.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran in Syria (IsraeliPM/YouTube)

The photo released illustrates how Tehran was capable of delivering surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) and unarmed aerial vehicles(UAV) to Syria.

The IDF released the photo intelligence and exposed the images to demonstrate to the Iranians that Israel knows and understand what the Iranian governments intentions are in Syria and to reduce the scope of Iranian intervention in Syria.

"Israel will react strongly to any Iranian action from inside Syria," a senior IDF source told Sky News in Arabic, adding that Iran plans to attack Israel from Syria and gain control of the Arab state though its air force.

The IDF's pictures illustrate the threats imposed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' ability to send weapons to Syria from Tehran. The Guard's air force presence is located in five airports in Syria: T4, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Damascus International Airport and an additional airfield south east of Damascus.

The intelligence was released after an eventful night in Syria during which Syrian air defense missile systems went off for reasons which are unclear. A Syrian commander in the regional military alliance reported that the shots were a false alarm.

Contrary to this report, Syrian state TV reported that anti-aircraft defenses had shot down a number of missiles in the region of Homs. According to a media unit run by Hezbollah, missiles were fired at an airbase in the Damascus area.

In an anonymous report, a Syrian commander attributed the weapon-systems malfunction to "a joint electronic attack" by Israel and the United States targeting the Syrian radar system.

The recent rise in tensions between Israel and Iran coincides with celebrations for Israel's 70th year of Independence.

Reuters contributed to this report.