Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Israeli fighter jets struck several border crossings and land routes between Syria and Lebanon used to transfer weapons to Hezbollah over the night of October 5 and 6, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on December 6.
The strikes targeted the Arida Crossing between northern Lebanon and Syria’s Tartus governorate, as well as several routes in the al-Qusayr area in Homs governorate. According to the official Syrian Arab News Agency, the Arida Crossing was out of service following the strikes.
In a statement, the IDF said that the strikes were part of a campaign against Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, which is tasked with delivering weapons from Iran and its allies to Lebanon.
The strikes came as militants led by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham were advancing in Homs and approaching the main roads leading to both Arida and al-Qusayr. Israel continued to launch attacks against Syria amid the militants’ offensive.
Hebrew media revealed on December 5 that Israeli strikes hit advanced weapons of the Syrian military in southeastern Aleppo earlier in the week, allegedly to prevent them from falling into the hands of the militants.
Commenting on the events in Syria, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on December 5 that his group would be by Damascus’s side amid the offensive.
In a televised address, Qassem denounced “terrorist groups” who want to “destroy Syria again… to bring down the regime” and “create chaos.”
“They will not be able to achieve their goals despite what they have done in past days, and we as Hezbollah will be by Syria’s side in thwarting the goals of this aggression as much as we can,” the Lebanese leader said.
On the same day, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Israel’s interest in the renewed fighting in Syria was “that they continue fighting one another.”
“It’s entirely clear to us that one side are Salafi jihadists and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah,” the official continued. “We want them to weaken one another.”
The official stressed that Israel is not getting involved on either side. “We are prepared for any scenario, and we will act accordingly.”
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