Israeli fighters conducted more than 20 airstrikes throughout February, hitting approximately 12 locations and military bases used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the capital Damascus and its countryside.
On Feb. 6, 2020, Israeli fighters hit sites of the Syrian regime and Iranian militias in Jabal Qassioun, Damascus, with four airstrikes. This was followed by a strike on the 75th Brigade in the vicinity of the village of al-Muqaylabiyah, west of Damascus, and the Mezzeh Military Airport and the First Division’s 91st Brigade in the vicinity of al-Kaswa in the countryside Damascus.
Regime media said that during the first attack the Marj al-Sultan area in eastern Ghouta was struck, as well as the Baghdad Bridge on the outskirts of Damascus in the direction of the Damascus-Palmyra road. Reports indicated that the raids hit arms shipments that were heading to the Iranian militias in Syria.
A missile from regime air defenses fell in the industrial city of al-Tal area in the Damascus countryside, causing major material damage in the area. Military sources confirmed to Sowt al-Asima that the counter-missile had been launched from the Qassioun base, and deviated from its path and fallen in the industrial area. Another air defense missile fell between the towns of Taybeh and Zakia, west of Damascus.
On Feb. 14, 2020, Israeli aircraft launched a series of raids hitting Damascus International Airport and its perimeter. They launched five successive airstrikes, and another one that hit the the First Division’s 91st Brigade in al-Kiswah, followed by large number of ambulances being seen in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, al-Sayyeda Zainab Road and on the Damascus-Quneitra Highway.
The Israeli raids continued for a quarter of an hour, interspersed with surface-to-air missiles launched by the regime from the base of Qasiyoun and the Saraya al-Sarah, Dimas and Yafur regiments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with local radio in the city of Haifa declined to confirm or deny airstrikes hitting weapons depots in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, commenting sarcastically: “I don’t know what happened, perhaps it was the Belgian Air Force.” He added: “I don’t address specific things. We have a policy to confront Iran at all costs, and to systematically prevent it from developing. We do this in secret and in public.”
Pictures published by the Israeli satellite company, ImageSat, on Feb. 16, 2020, showed the extent of the destruction of regime and Iranian militia weapons stores as a result of the recent Israeli bombing, which targeted Damascus International Airport. The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the photos showed extensive damage to a logistical site of the Iranian Quds Force.
Over 2019, Sowt al-Asima documented more than 100 airstrikes by Israeli fighter planes, targeting approximately 40 positions and military bases of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the capital Damascus and its countryside.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
