Report: Iran establishes new military base in Syria
Just months after Israel reportedly knocked out an Iranian military base south of Damascus, Fox News publishes satellite pictures depicting brand new base said to be operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards northwest of the Syrian capital, containing hangars for stockpiling missiles capable of 'hitting all of Israel.'
Western intelligence officials, the report says, say that the base contains hangars used to stockpile missiles “capable of hitting all of Israel.”
Satellite pictures taken by ImageSat International show what appears to be a new Iranian base located approximately 12 kilometers northwest of Damascus which is believed to be operated by the Quds Force—the special operations arm of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In the pictures, white 18 by 27 meter white hangars for storing short and medium-range missiles can be seen.
The base is similar to that which was established by the Iranians south of the Syrian capital and that was destroyed, according to foreign reports, by Israel last December.
Gen. Joseph L. Votel, head of US Central Commander warned on Tuesday that Iran was “increasing” the number and “quality” of its ballistic missiles it was deploying to the region.
Last December, Arab media outlets reported that Israel attacked an Iranian base near the town of al-Kiswah, 15 kilometers southwest of Syrian capital Damascus. Arab-language Sky News reported that Israeli fighter jets launched air-to-surface missiles from Lebanese airspace at the compound.
Syrian state television corroborated the report, saying Israeli missiles struck a military position near Damascus overnight and Syria's air defense system thwarted them.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, Netanyahu told European diplomats and leaders that "Israel will not allow the regime to put a noose of terror around our neck.," threatening to strike Iran directly if forced to.
"We will act if necessary not just against Iran's proxies but against Iran itself," he said, listing the threats that Tehran poses to Israel and the world.
Last week, a New York Times investigative report revealed the scope and depth of Iranian entrenchment in Syria. Iran, through its presence in Syria, was "redrawing the strategic map of the region," as per the paper.
The report detailed Iranian bases and posts inside Syria, presenting a high concentration of Iranian outposts along the border with Israel.
The red squares on the map above represent administrative bases, logistical bases, control centers for UAVs (drones), training centers and more. The map does not, however, include temporary bases established near zones of conflict.
