In a daring September 2024 operation, over 100 Israeli Shaldag special forces soldiers infiltrated Syria and neutralized a clandestine underground facility producing long-range, precision-guided missiles. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently disclosed this complex mission, releasing footage of the operation and the subsequent demolition of the subterranean complex.

The IDF described the facility as being "dug into the side of a mountain," emphasizing the operation's complexity. Documents related to Syria's chemical weapons program were also discovered during the raid, including a chemical handbook detailing missile production. The IDF confiscated this material and dismantled the factory's equipment to safeguard Israel.

The factory, reportedly capable of producing 150-350 missiles annually, including precision-guided missiles (PGMs), was allegedly Iranian-funded and intended to supply Hezbollah. According to the IDF, around 30 Syrian soldiers were killed during the operation, which involved over 100 Israeli commandos, helicopters, and other aircraft. The IDF spokesperson explained the necessity of a ground operation due to the terrain and the underground location of the facility.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation as a crucial preventative measure against Iran's attempts to arm its proxies against Israel. This action follows a period of heightened tension and attacks from Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, particularly after the Hamas incursion in October 2023.

Amit Segal, a prominent Israeli political analyst, highlighted the shift in Israeli perspective on the threat posed by Iran's regional activities, emphasizing the increased focus on neutralizing these threats directly. The raid on the Syrian missile factory may also signal a potential shift in Israel's approach to Iran's nuclear program.

The IDF stated that construction of the Syrian missile factory began in late 2017 and finished in 2021, with Iran supplying the machinery and most of the components. The IDF also reported that Hezbollah launched over 17,000 projectiles at Israel between October 2023 and November 2024, resulting in numerous Israeli casualties.