Israeli Commandos Capture Syrian Spy Linked to Iran in Rare Ground Operation on Syrian Soil

By: Fern Sidman

In a rare disclosure of an Israeli ground operation in Syria, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently revealed a covert raid in southern Syria targeting a Syrian man accused of conducting surveillance on the border for Iran. According to a report on Sunday at The Times of Israel, Israeli commandos captured the suspect, identified as Ali Suleiman al-Asi, who allegedly gathered intelligence for potential Iranian-backed attacks on Israel. The operation sheds light on the escalating tension between Israel and Iranian-affiliated entities near Israel’s northern border.

The IDF disclosed that the mission, involving the specialized Egoz commando unit and field interrogators from the Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504, occurred months prior to the announcement, with Syrian media pinpointing July 19 as the date of the raid. The military action, which took place in Syria’s Daraa Governorate, led to the capture of al-Asi in his home village of Saida. Al-Asi’s activities, according to the IDF, were allegedly part of a broader Iranian strategy to surveil and eventually target Israeli positions on the Golan Heights.

The Times of Israel reported that al-Asi, under the guise of Syria’s military intelligence, gathered sensitive details on Israeli military maneuvers and passed them to Iranian contacts. His surveillance efforts allegedly included tracking troop and tank movements along the Israeli border, data that could potentially aid hostile actions by Iranian-backed groups against Israel.

During his interrogation, al-Asi recounted how an Iranian-linked individual approached him, emphasizing the strategic value of his location near the Golan Heights. “Your area is good, strategic; we can get something from this,” he recalled the contact saying. Al-Asi claimed he was directed to “just observe the borders” and relay information on Israeli patrol patterns to his handlers.

The IDF released select footage of the raid, as well as clips from al-Asi’s interrogation, where he detailed how he communicated with the Iranian agent. His capture has disrupted what could have been an imminent security threat, preventing a potential attack while unveiling the operational techniques employed by Iranian agents in the region, according to IDF sources and reported by The Times of Israel.

Israel’s recent raid underscores its broader, long-standing mission to counter Iranian influence in Syria. Since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes against Iranian targets and weapons transfers aimed at the Lebanon-based Hezbollah. These efforts primarily focus on curbing the movement of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah and preventing Iranian troops from establishing a foothold close to Israeli borders. According to report at The Times of Israel, Israeli officials see Iranian-backed militias in Syria as a direct threat, prompting both aerial and, as revealed, ground interventions to neutralize them.

This latest ground operation adds another layer to Israel’s multi-pronged approach against Iran’s presence in Syria, marking one of the few times the IDF has publicly acknowledged such a raid. Although Israel typically refrains from commenting on specific missions, the IDF’s decision to confirm the operation against al-Asi appears to serve a dual purpose. Not only does it deter similar surveillance activities, but it also signals to Iranian operatives that their movements are being closely watched, even within Syrian borders.

Al-Asi’s capture reveals the depth of Iran’s intelligence operations in Syria and how these efforts aim to leverage Syria’s geographic proximity to Israel for future hostilities. As The Times of Israel reported, the IDF believes that al-Asi’s intelligence-gathering mission is part of a larger framework orchestrated by Iranian affiliates, with a focus on destabilizing Israel’s northern frontier. The IDF’s intelligence-gathering and counterintelligence capabilities remain crucial in identifying and neutralizing such threats before they manifest into direct confrontations on Israeli soil.

Israel’s aggressive stance against Iranian influence in Syria has seen frequent aerial strikes aimed at curtailing Iranian weapon transfers and militia deployments. While most of these actions have occurred through airstrikes, the ground operation involving al-Asi demonstrates Israel’s willingness to diversify its strategies in curbing Iranian advances. This approach reflects an urgent need to counter not only Iranian military actions but also the clandestine surveillance networks Iran seeks to establish near the Israeli border.

This reported raid marked an extraordinary shift in Israel’s approach to countering Iran’s strategic foothold in Syria, involving both an air assault that led to significant casualties and a covert ground mission. If confirmed, this would underscore Israel’s commitment to dismantling Iran’s advanced weapons infrastructure close to its borders, particularly in the wake of the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which has heightened Israeli vigilance against Iranian-supported forces in the region.

The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli forces, operating over 200 kilometers from Israeli territory but only about 30 kilometers from Syria’s western coastline, executed this raid with precision and intent. The Masyaf facility has been a recurring target due to its reputation as a center for the production of chemical weapons and surface-to-surface missiles, which Syrian and Iranian forces have allegedly used to strengthen their position in the Middle East. This facility, located in Syria’s western Hama Governorate, has been at the center of numerous Israeli airstrikes in the past, but the alleged ground operation signals a new level of intervention by Israel in the region.

Foreign media reports have suggested that during the raid, commandos from the elite Shaldag Unit of the Israeli Air Force descended from helicopters to infiltrate the SSRC, remove critical documents and equipment, and set explosives to destroy key assets. While the IDF have refrained from publicly confirming these details, the Times of Israel report noted that these actions align with Israel’s ongoing strategy to disrupt Iran’s precision missile manufacturing capabilities.

According to Syrian media reports cited by The Times of Israel, the strikes resulted in substantial casualties, with at least 14 reported deaths and 43 injuries. These attacks have drawn international scrutiny due to their proximity to the SSRC, which many countries believe to be a critical link in Iran’s arms supply chain within Syria. The destruction of equipment and the removal of documentation indicate Israel’s intent to dismantle both the physical infrastructure and the operational knowledge base supporting Iran’s missile development efforts.

This operation appears to be part of Israel’s broader response to the Hamas massacre on October 7, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 kidnapped, many by Iranian-supported Hamas operatives. In retaliation, Israel has intensified its military operations, targeting Iranian-backed forces across Syria and striking Syrian military installations accused of collusion with Iranian objectives. These actions, according to The Times of Israel, reflect Israel’s intensified focus on neutralizing the strategic weapons capabilities of any Iranian allies stationed near its borders.

Since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has conducted regular airstrikes targeting weapon transfers and Iranian troop movements that could threaten its borders. However, the recent alleged ground operation at Masyaf highlights Israel’s shift towards a more aggressive, multi-dimensional approach against Iranian assets in Syria. By combining airstrikes with ground raids, Israel appears intent on targeting highly fortified facilities and minimizing the risk of advanced weaponry being used against it.

The Times of Israel also reported that Israel’s strategy has recently expanded to include strikes on Syrian air defenses and even direct attacks on Syrian forces, a response to increased Syrian complicity with Iranian operations. This action signals to Iran and its regional allies that Israel will not tolerate the establishment of Iranian-backed military strongholds close to its northern borders.

CERS, also referred to as the SSRC, is considered the linchpin of Iran’s weapon production in Syria. It has allegedly been involved in the development of precision-guided missiles that could enable Iran and its allies to accurately target Israeli territory from within Syria. As The Times of Israel reported, this facility has long been viewed by Israeli intelligence as a direct threat, particularly due to its capabilities in both missile and chemical weapon production. Israeli officials have consistently expressed concern that weapons produced at CERS could reach Hezbollah or other Iranian proxies, significantly enhancing their offensive capabilities.

The July raid, therefore, represents a concerted effort to remove these capabilities, both by eliminating physical assets and by disrupting the operational intelligence that underpins such projects. The removal of documents and equipment from CERS further indicates that Israel may have obtained crucial insights into Iran’s future weapons development plans and manufacturing techniques.

This operation speaks volumes about Israel’s commitment to an assertive defense posture, particularly against Iranian-supported military infrastructures within Syria. For Israel, the presence of Iran’s advanced weaponry near its borders remains an intolerable security risk. By reportedly conducting a combined air and ground operation at Masyaf, Israel has sent a powerful message to Iran and its regional proxies: Israeli intelligence and operational reach remain capable of thwarting threats deep within enemy territory.

The operation at Masyaf also serves as a potential deterrent to any further Iranian encroachment in Syria, signaling that Israel will continue to target not only conventional military assets but also any facilities that enable Iran’s precision-strike capabilities. In a time of heightened security tensions following the October 7 attack, Israel’s actions reflect a comprehensive security strategy that includes preemptive strikes and robust intelligence operations to protect its borders from sophisticated and long-range threats.

As The Times of Israel concluded, Israel’s mission at Masyaf may be a harbinger of more expansive and aggressive measures against Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria, as it seeks to mitigate the risks posed by Iranian influence and weaponry in the volatile border regions of the Golan Heights and beyond.