Israel scouts out Iran military bases as war threats rise with nations ‘fated to collide’

The bases contain tens of thousands of Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops, conducting overseas operations and supplying missile and transfer facilities to Hezbollah.

The Lebanon-based Shia militia was mentioned in a military intelligence document submitted to the Israeli government this week, according to national media.

The document said, according to The Times: “Two powerful strategic trends are fated to collide: the Iranian insistence on establishing a military presence in Syria, and the Israeli insistence on preventing it.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, told the lobby group American Israel Public Affairs Committee last week: “I have a message for you today, it’s a very simple one. 

“We must stop Iran, we will stop Iran.”

The scale of Iran’s military presence in Syria has been disputed.

It first sent advisors and fighters to the region from Hezbollah in 2012-13 to fight the Assad regime.

The official line was that these fighters were there to “defend the holy shrines” – sites of Shia worship at risk from Sunni Islamist rebels like ISIS. 

They have now generated bases across Syria and are thought to be building Hezbollah’s missile supply there, according to reports.

As well as 100,000 missiles, they are believed to have sponsored militias across southern Syria. 

Until last month, experts suggested the risk of conflict was low – because Israel and Hezbollah both risked heavy losses for limited gain. 

But that changed after a clash between Israeli, Iranian and Syrian fires last month.

An Iranian drone was tracked entering Israeli air space from the northeast and was shot down.

This triggered increased hostilities between the forces. 

Israel claim its raids have taken out half of Syria’s air defence systems.

The ten bases are believed to across the west of the country spanning areas in the north near the Turkish border and as far south as the border with Lebanon. 

They are identified as Damascus Int’l Airport, Shibani Garrison, Al-Kiswah, Izra, Tiyas, Shayrat air base, Bohouth military complex, Mayer City base, Camp Tala’e Shabibeh and Yarmouk.

The Israeli Revolutionary Guard’s main base is at Damascus Int’l Airport, dubbed ‘the Glass building.’ 

Israel’s prime target is at Izra, in southern Syria. 

There is a ceasefire at Deraa, near Izra, negotiated in Jordan by the Americans and the Russians with Israeli diplomats briefed on progress. 

Israeli diplomats were promised that Iranian forces could not go within 37 miles (60km) of Israeli-occupied Golan – but this was ignored. 

Iran has backed many Iraqi, Pakistani and Afghan forces in the Syrian war, as well as Hezbollah.

Benjamin NetanyahuGETTY

Netanyahu wants to project strength in Israel

More than 50,000 foreign fighters are believed to be working with Assad.

An estimated 90-100,000 Syrian troops fight in the National Defence Forces too, which is an Iranian-backed paramilitary force. 

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard wants to expand what are essentially barracks in most parts of the country to become missile bases. 

Meanwhile Israel relies on America and to a lesser degree Russia for its defence capabilities. 

SyriaGETTY

Syria has been devastated by conflict in recent years

Russia indicated some support for Israel with its non-intervention as Israel raided Tiyas last week. 

But Russia also stood by as Iran sent drones into conflict.

Israel is now backing southwest Syrian rebel groups to protect itself.

The British Israeli Communications and Research Centre said: “The sheer number of moving pieces in Syria is creating a combustible situation with high potential for miscalculation, error and rapid escalation between Israel, Iran and its allies.”