PM Netanyahu says Israel stopped Iranian aircraft from reaching Syria before Assad's fall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed on April 27 that Israeli warplanes intercepted Iranian aircraft last year, preventing them from delivering troops intended to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his final days in power. 

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Jewish News Syndicate in Jerusalem, Netanyahu outlined the covert actions taken by Israel in response to the escalating conflict in Syria, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

According to Netanyahu, Iran was determined to save Assad after witnessing heavy losses by its ally, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, in its ongoing conflict with Israel.

“They had to rescue Assad,” Netanyahu explained, claiming that Iran planned to send “one or two airborne divisions” to support the embattled Syrian leader.

“We stopped that. We sent some F-16s to some Iranian planes that were making some routes to Damascus,” Netanyahu continued. “They turned back.” The Israeli leader did not provide further details about the operation, but the interception highlights the extent of Israel's military involvement in the region.

As the situation in Syria deteriorated, Israel kept a close watch on Iran’s actions, particularly its movement of troops to reinforce Assad’s regime. In addition to the airstrikes, Israel also issued a warning to Iran regarding potential weapon smuggling operations across the Syrian-Lebanese border.

The Israeli operations culminated shortly after Assad’s regime collapsed in December, as Islamist-led insurgents took control. A day after the fall of the Assad government, Israel deployed troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, a strategically critical area between Israeli and Syrian forces. Israeli troops have remained stationed there since, maintaining a strategic presence in the region.

By Khagan Isayev