Israeli forces launched a significant airstrike near Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria: Target a millitary depot

On October 3, 2024, Israeli forces launched a significant airstrike near Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria, targeting a military depot in Jableh, close to the base. The strike involved 30 missiles, reportedly fired from warships, and hit an ammunition warehouse that had recently received a shipment from Iran. This depot is believed to have been used for supplying Hezbollah, which may explain why it was targeted so close to Russian military assets, a rare occurrence for Israel.

Russian and Syrian air defenses were activated to intercept the missiles, with reports indicating a prolonged engagement of over 40 minutes. Despite efforts, the strikes caused significant damage, including secondary explosions at the depot, though there was no damage to Khmeimim’s infrastructure. This marks part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at disrupting Iranian-backed military operations in Syria and Lebanon.

This incident follows previous Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets, including the killing of key Hezbollah figures involved in weapons transfers from Iran.