May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes

(Redirected from May 2013 Israeli airstrikes in Syria)

May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes
Part of Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian civil war and the Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
Rif Dimashq Governorate in Syria (red)
Planned by	Israel (allegedly)
Objective	Destroy a munitions depot, stop transfer of weapons to Hezbollah
Date	3 May 2013 (2013-05-03) and 5 May 2013 (2013-05-05)
Executed by	Israeli Air Force involvement alleged
Outcome	unknown
Casualties	42+ soldiers dead (SOHR claim), and many civilian casualties (Syrian government claim)

v t e Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian civil war
Zabadani (2012) al-Qusayr (2012) Aleppo (2012-2016) Aleppo (Oct-Dec 2015) North Aleppo (2016) January 2013 Rif Dimashq al-Qusayr (2013) May 2013 Rif Dimashq First Qalamoun Second Qalamoun December 2014 Rif Dimashq January 2015 Mazraat Amal April 2015 Qalamoun Third Qalamoun Zabadani (2015) Wadi Barada (2016–17) Fourth Qalamoun 2nd Eastern Syria 3rd Northwestern Syria Beit Jinn 3rd Syrian Desert 3rd Southern Damascus 1st As-Suwayda 3rd As-Suwayda Idlib demilitarization 4th Northwestern Syria 5th Northwestern Syria

Hezbollah involvement in
the Syrian civil war

The May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes were a series of aerial attacks made on targets in Syria on 3 and 5 May 2013. The 3 May attack was on targets at Damascus International Airport. The 5 May attacks were on targets at Jamraya, and the Al-Dimas and Maysalun areas in Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside). Although officially Israel neither confirmed nor denied its involvement, former Mossad director Danny Yatom and former government member Tzachi Hanegbi inferred Israel's involvement in the attack. Official Syrian sources denied any attack on its soil on 3 May, but did accuse Israel for the attacks on 5 May.

Timeline

Early on 3 May 2013, several unidentified warplanes attacked a warehouse in Damascus International Airport that contained advanced surface-to-surface missiles that allegedly had been transported from Iran and were possibly bound for Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The warehouse was believed to be controlled by Hezbollah and Iran's Quds Force. An unidentified American official said the missiles were Fateh-110s and two Israeli defense analysts said they included Scud Ds. Satellite images showed that two facilities on opposite sides of the airport were destroyed.

In the early hours of 5 May there were further air strikes on Syria. SANA, the Syrian state news agency, said there were strikes in three places: northeast of Jamraya; the Al-Dimas air base; and at Maysalun on the border with Lebanon. Syria suggested it had been attacked with rockets.

Targets of the attack

Photographs handed out by SANA and video shown on Al-Manar, a Lebanese television station affiliated with Hezbollah, showed buildings destroyed by the attack on the western side of Mount Qasioun at Al-Hamah, near Jamraya, in what appeared to be a chicken farm. Analysis by Storyful identified the location, which was a mile from the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) facility at Jamraya where a 31 January 2013 airstrike destroyed a convoy in the parking lot. The same location was identified by Giuliano Ranieri. The location is at 33°33′49.3″N 36°15′1″E / 33.563694°N 36.25028°E / 33.563694; 36.25028. Storyful identified this location as the site of the largest explosion in the Jamraya and Qasioun area that night. Al-Manar said the SSRC facility was not hit on this occasion and Storyful also said there was no evidence of a strike at the SSRC facility.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air raids had killed at least 42 soldiers and another 100 were missing. Other opposition sources put the death toll at 300. A doctor at Tishreen military hospital in north Damascus said that 100 soldiers were killed in the attack.

Reactions

Turkey - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan commented that attacking other countries was "unacceptable".
Iran - The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Akbar Salehi, warned of grave consequences for the Middle East if the Assad government should fall.
Lebanon - The President of Lebanon, Michel Suleiman suggested that launching weapons at other sovereign states was breaking international law.
Syria - On 7 May, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad characterized Israel's actions as "an act of terrorism". Assad added that the airstrikes "revealed the extent" of the Israeli and Western involvement in the ongoing civil war. Assad also stated that the Syrian people and its army are prepared to confront Israeli, and other, ventures targeting Syria.
United Nations - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed "grave concern" over the airstrikes and appealed for restraint to avoid an escalation in Syrian civil war.
United States - United States President Barack Obama did not comment on the airstrike, but stated "The Israelis, justifiably, have to guard against the transfer of advanced weaponry to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah".
United Kingdom - British Foreign Secretary William Hague commented that "All countries have to look after their own national security, of course, and are able to take actions to protect their own national security" and said that Israel has the right to defend itself.
Israel - Israeli politician Tzachi Hanegbi made it clear that any action was against Hezbollah, not against the Assad government, without explicitly admitting Israel made the strikes.
Egypt - Egypt's President Mohammad Morsi's pointed out to Israel that attacking other countries was "increasing complexities".
Russia - Russia expressed "deep concern" about the offensive and warned not to create an anti-Syrian media circus.

References

^ Anne Barnard, Michael R. Gordon and Jodi Rudoren (4 May 2013). "Israel targeted Iranian missiles in Syria attack". New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
^ Williams, Dan; Oweis, Khaled Yacoub (6 May 2013). "Israel says 'no winds of war' despite Syria air strikes". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
^ "Turkey condemns Israeli air strikes in Syria". Reuters. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
^ Barnett, David (16 May 2013). "Satellite imagery of Israeli airstrike at Damascus airport released". Threat Matrix. Public Multimedia Inc. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
^ Evans, Dominic; Holmes, Oliver (5 May 2013). "Israel strikes Syria, says targeting Hezbollah arms". Reuters. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
"Israel: Air strikes were 'against Hezbollah and not the Syrian regime'". 6 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
Walker, Peter; Beaumont, Peter (5 May 2013). "Israel carries out second air strike in Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
Scott, David Clark (4 May 2013). "Why Israel bombed Syria, again". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
^ "Israel enforces 'red line' with Syria airstrike". ABC News. 4 May 2013.
"Damascus military facilities 'hit by Israel rockets'". BBC News. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
^ McMahon, Felim (7 May 2013). "Syria – [Public] Analysis of where air strikes blamed on Israel hit – May 05". Storyful. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
Cenciotti, David (8 May 2013). "What kind of target did the Israeli Air Force really hit in Syria?". The Aviationist. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
"Israel carries out second air strike in Syria". The Guardian. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
"Syrian Observatory: 42 soldiers killed in Israel strike". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 6 May 2013.
^ "Assad: Syria army capable of confronting Israel". Jerusalem Post. 7 May 2013.
"Israeli warplanes 'launch air strike inside Syria'". BBC News. 4 May 2013.
"UN accuses Syrian rebels of chemical weapons use". Telegraph. 6 May 2013.
"Obama: Israel has right to defend itself from Hezbollah". Times of Israel. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
"Syria air strike: Israel has the right to defend itself, says William Hague". The Guardian. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
"Egypt condemns airstrikes against Syria, warns they complicate ongoing civil war". Fox News. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
"Russia 'concern' over Israel air strikes Archived 10 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine". News.com.au. 6 May 2013.

Syrian civil war

Overviews

Main overviews	Syria Rojava Syrian civil war Timeline Background and causes Syrian peace process Syrian government reactions Belligerents Inter-rebel conflict Spillover Cities and towns Sectarianism and minorities Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)
Effects and ongoing concerns	Casualties of the Syrian civil war Refugees of the Syrian civil war Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war
Phases and processes	Syrian revolution Early insurgency phase 2012–2013 escalation Ceasefires Syrian peace process
World reaction	International reactions to the Syrian civil war Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war Reactions to the fall of the Assad regime
Specific groups and countries	Russian involvement Russian intervention Turkish involvement Turkish occupation of northern Syria Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria US intervention in the Syrian civil war 2023 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria Kurdish Area in Syria Syrian Democratic Forces Rojava conflict U.S. task force
Agreements and dialogues	Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria Relations between Syrian government and Kurdish groups in Syria
Transitional phase	Syrian transitional government

Timeline

Background

2011
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2012
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2013
Jan–Apr
May–Dec

2014
Jan–Jul
Aug–Dec

2015
Jan–Jul
Aug–Dec

2016
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2017
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2018
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2019
Jan–Apr
May–Aug
Sep–Dec

2020
Jan–Dec

2021
Jan–Dec

2022
Jan–Dec

2023
Jan-Dec

2024
Jan–Oct
Nov–present

Spillover

Israel and Golan Heights:	March 2017 incident February 2018 incident May 2018 Israel–Iran incidents
Iraq:	Akashat ambush Operation al-Shabah April 2014 Iraqi border airstrike
Jordanian border incidents	April 2014 Jordanian border airstrike
Lebanon:	Lebanese border clashes Battle of Sidon Iranian embassy bombing in Beirut North Lebanon clashes Qalamoun (Jul–Aug 2017)
Turkey:	December 2011 Turkish border clash 2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown 2012 Turkish border clashes 2013 Reyhanlı car bombings January 2014 Turkish attack in Syria Assassination of Andrei Karlov Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident 2020 Balyun airstrikes Operation Spring Shield
Elsewhere:	Deir ez-Zor missile strike (Iran)

Belligerents

Ba'athist regime

Politics of Ba'athist Syria	Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region Syrian Social Nationalist Party Arab Socialist Movement Syrian Communist Party
Military and militias	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Resistance PFLP-GC al-Quds Brigade Palestine Liberation Army
Foreign support	Hezbollah involvement Iranian involvement Liwa Fatemiyoun Russian involvement medical facility targeting military intervention Wagner Group Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition Popular Mobilization Forces

Opposition

Interim government	National Coalition Local Coordination Committees Syrian National Council Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change Syrian Revolution General Commission Syrian Support Group Adopt a Revolution Syrian Patriotic Group
Opposition militias	Syrian National Army Free Syrian Army National Front for Liberation Army of Glory Authenticity and Development Front Army of Free Tribes Revolutionary Commando Army Muslim Brotherhood in Syria Grey Wolves
Foreign support	US intervention Jordanian intervention Qatar Saudi Arabia Turkey

Autonomous Administration
of North and East Syria

DFNS Government	Democratic Union Party Kurdish National Council Smaller political parties
SDF militias	People's Protection Units Women's Protection Units Anti-Terror Units Al-Sanadid Forces Army of Revolutionaries SDF military councils Syriac Military Council Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa Northern Democratic Brigade
Support	Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kurdistan Workers' Party International Freedom Battalion Sinjar Resistance Units Êzîdxan Women's Units

Islamists

Islamic State

al-Qaeda and allies

People

Elections	2011 local elections 2012 parliamentary election 2014 presidential election 2015 Northern local elections 2016 parliamentary election 2017 Northern local elections 2017 Northern regional elections 2018 local elections 2020 parliamentary election 2021 presidential election
Issues	Casualties Cities and towns Chemical weapons Damaged heritage sites Foreign involvement Human rights violations Humanitarian aid International demonstrations and protests International reactions Massacres Mass graves Refugees Sectarianism and minorities Status of the Golan Heights Spillover in Lebanon Syrian government reactions
Peace process	Arab League monitors Friends of Syria Group Kofi Annan peace plan UN supervision mission Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan U.S.–Russia peace proposals 39th G8 summit UN Security Council Resolution 2118 Geneva II conference 2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement Vienna talks 2016 Geneva talks Idlib demilitarization (2018–present) First Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal Second Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal Syrian Constitutional Committee
Investigations/legal cases	Investigations International Commission Chemical weapons War crimes cases Germany Canada + Netherlands vs Syria
Related topics	Exclusive mandate Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference International recognition of the Syrian National Council Syria Files Syrian detainee report Syrian media coverage 2015 European migrant crisis Syrian civil war in popular culture

Category

v t e Iran–Israel proxy conflict
Background	Iranian revolution Iran–Iraq war 1999 arrest of Iranian Jews
2024 Iran–Israel conflict	Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus reactions Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries Iranian strikes on Israel April 2024 October 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran April 2024 October 2024 intelligence leak
Hezbollah–Israel conflict	Israeli–Lebanese conflict South Lebanon conflict 1982 kidnapping of Iranian diplomats Assassination of Abbas al-Musawi 1992 Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing AMIA bombing 2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict 2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid 2005 Hezbollah cross-border raid 2006 Lebanon War Assassination of Imad Mughniyeh 2008 Israel–Hezbollah prisoner exchange 2009 Hezbollah plot in Egypt Francop Affair January 2015 Shebaa Farms incident Operation Northern Shield 2019 Beirut drone crash 2023 Israel–Lebanon shellings Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present) Assassination of Fuad Shukr 2024 Lebanon electronic device attacks 20 September 2024 Beirut attack September 2024 Israeli attacks against Lebanon 2024 Hezbollah headquarters strike Assassination of Hashem Safieddine 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement Projectile attacks from Lebanon
Israeli–Palestinian conflict	Karine A affair Victoria Affair Operation Full Disclosure
Gaza–Israel conflict	Gaza War (2008–2009) 2014 Gaza War Israel–Hamas war Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
Syrian civil war	January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes December 2014 Rif Dimashq airstrikes January 2015 Mazraat Amal incident Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015) March 2017 Israel–Syria incident February 2018 Israel–Syria incident Operation House of Cards September 2018 Syria missile strikes August 2019 Syria missile strikes November 2019 Syria missile strikes January 2021 Syria airstrikes 2023 Damascus airstrike Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents Hezbollah involvement
International incidents	Operation Outside the Box 2009 Sudan airstrikes 2011 alleged Iran assassination plot 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats 2012 Bangkok bombings 2012 Cyprus terrorist plot 2012 Burgas bus bombing Yarmouk munitions factory explosion 2019 Israeli airstrikes in Iraq 2022 Erbil missile attacks 2022 Istanbul terror plot 2024 Iranian missile strikes in Iraq and Syria 20 July 2024 Israeli attack on Yemen
Nuclear program of Iran	Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists Ardeshir Hosseinpour Massoud Ali-Mohammadi Majid Shahriari Fereydoon Abbasi Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan Mohsen Fakhrizadeh AMAD Project Mossad infiltration of Iranian nuclear archive Bid Kaneh explosion Stuxnet 2020 Iran explosions 2021 Natanz incident 2023 Iran drone attacks
Related	Russia and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict Russia–Hamas relations Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict Ahmad Reza Djalali Axis of Resistance Arab–Israeli alliance Abraham Accords Warsaw Middle East conference People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran Little Satan Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel Views on military action against Iran Iran and state-sponsored terrorism Iranian support for Hamas Israel and state-sponsored terrorism Quds Day Prisoner X2 Tehran
Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict

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