The timing and magnitude of the attack could suggest a large arms depot was hit, in what could be an attempt to thwart an Iranian revenge over Israeli bombing Israel will continue to operate freely in Syria, defense minister says
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The attack on Syria Sunday night apparently targeted major arms caches, including surface-to-surface missiles that Iran seeks to deploy in Syria, according to assessments.
Last week reports said that U.S. and Israeli spy agencies have been watching movements of Iranian arms to Syria, and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel will not allow Iran to set up positions and bases in Syria from which to fire missiles.
The timing and magnitude of the attack could attest that a major cache of arms had been hit, in what may be an attempt to foil any Iranian response to the attack on the T4 airbase earlier this month, which has been attributed to Israel.
An official from a regional alliance including Iran, Hezbollah and Syria, told the New York Times on Monday that some 200 missiles were destroyed in the strike, adding that 16 people were killed, among them 11 Iranians.The official spoke on the condition of anonymity, as he was permitted to speak to the press. Citing the source and other regional officials allied with Iran, the report said that Tehran is expected to retaliate against Israel for the strikes, perhaps after parliamentary elections in Lebanon, scheduled for May 6, in which candidates from Hezbollah are running.