According to the reports on Friday (3 January 2025), The Israeli Air Force (IAF) revealed details of “Operation Many Ways,” a daring raid in which 120 Israeli commandos destroyed an alleged Iran-backed missile manufacturing facility in Syria on September 8, 2024. The facility, known as “Deep Layer,” was located near Masyaf in western Syria, a region heavily fortified with air defenses. The site reportedly aimed to supply advanced precision missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syria, making it a critical target for Israeli security.
Iran began constructing the Deep Layer facility in 2017 after an Israeli airstrike destroyed an aboveground missile production site. Built deep within a mountain, the facility featured three entrances for raw materials, logistics, and completed missiles, with 16 production rooms housing advanced missile manufacturing equipment. Strategically positioned 200 kilometers from the Israeli border, it was capable of producing 100-300 missiles annually, potentially bypassing Israeli interdictions of overland weapon transfers.
Extensive planning preceded the mission, with years of intelligence gathering and training by elite Israeli units like Shaldag and Unit 669. Amid heightened regional tensions following the multifront war of October 2023, the operation was fast-tracked. Simulations, reconnaissance, and meticulous mapping of Syrian defenses ensured mission readiness. The attack was launched under cover of diversionary strikes, with commandos infiltrating Syrian airspace using low-altitude flights to evade detection.
The operation involved planting 660 pounds of explosives inside the facility to destroy key machinery. Commandos completed their mission in under three hours, detonating the explosives and causing a blast likened to a mini-earthquake. Approximately 30 Syrian guards were reportedly killed, with Israeli forces suffering no casualties. The mission underscored Israel’s determination to counter regional threats and prevent the proliferation of advanced weaponry to hostile entities.
References
Comments 1