Airstrikes hit Syrian facility that West alleged produced chemical weapons, eyewitness says

CNN ^ | Mon September 9, 2024 | Hamdi Alkhshali and Eyad Kourdi, CNN

[monkeyshine]

(CNN) - Alleged Israeli airstrikes in central Syria on Sunday night struck a facility claimed by the West to have produced chemical weapons, according to a local resident.

The strikes killed at least 18 people and injured 37 others, state-run Syrian news agency SANA said Monday, citing the director of Masyaf National Hospital. SANA reported that there had been several explosions in the central Tartous and Hama governorates, including in the Masyaf countryside.

A Masyaf resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described to CNN hearing several explosions late Sunday night.

“About half an hour before midnight, multiple airstrikes targeted the Syrian Military Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) and several nearby buildings. I heard at least eight explosions, followed by the sound of ambulances,” the resident said.

Western governments sanctioned a number of officials working at the SSRC in 2017 for their alleged involvement in a Syrian government project to make and deploy the deadly sarin chemical agent.

[piasa]

From a 2018 thread:

...Israel has been seeking to thwart efforts by Iran and Hezbollah to open a new front against Israel and has been waging a relentless military and political campaign to accomplish this objective. Of particular concern for Israel is the establishment of Iranian controlled ballistic missile facilities in Syria. One such facility in Masyaf, which is located in Syria’s northwestern Hama province, has been the target of repeated Israeli strikes. An Israeli intelligence site recently released satellite images of the Masyaf facility and the devastation caused by an apparent Israeli missile strike in July. The side-by-side, before and after images are glaring....

[piasa]

2017 :

Israeli jets ‘hit factory behind Syria chemical attack’
Sky News ^ | September 7, 2017 | By Alex Rossi, Middle East Correspondent
Posted on 9/7/2017, 10:40:29 AM by Oldeconomybuyer

Israeli jets have reportedly targeted a suspected chemical weapons factory in western Syria.

The Syrian National Army said four IAF warplanes hit a military site in Hama province, near Masyaf, in the early hours of Thursday morning, killing two soldiers and causing massive damage.

It is believed the site was linked to the sarin gas attack in April, which UN investigators said was the work of the Syrian government.

The UN confirmed the chemical attacks in Khan Sheikhoun, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and prompted a US missile attack, were perpetrated by Assad regime forces.

Israel refused to comment on the reports but has indicated in the past that it has taken military action against Hezbollah and other targets inside Syria - and will continue to do so.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...

[monkeyshine]

Given the source in this report (one anonymous civilian?) I am not sure about it’s credibility. Could be that the place blew up on it’s own, or it could be allies operating in the region took it out. Or could be a made up story. Waiting for other confirming reports. Couldn’t find any other threads here or other news.

[jjotto]

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395874

[monkeyshine]

Thanks. But that is just a report about a report. I doubt Israel would confirm it - at least not right away. Even your linked article says “Syrian reports” “attributed to”. No independent verification.

If the site was converted from making sarin gas bombs to regular bombs or rockets or missiles, it is possible that human error was the culprit.

Though, my gut tells me this was Israel cutting off a supply route to Hezbullah. They have hit convoys and airports in and around Syria over the years. They recently took out about 20% of Hezbullah’s missiles and a slew of their launchers in a massive surprise attack involving about 100 jet fighter bombers. Clearly Israel believes they need to degrade Hezbullah’s potential to retaliate against Israeli territory in the event that an invasion becomes necessary.