Operation House of Cards explained

Conflict:	May 2018 Israel–Iran clashes
Partof:	Israeli–Syrian border incidents and the Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
Date:	10 May 2018
Place:	Golan Heights
Units1:	Quds Force
Units2:	Israeli Air Force
Strength1:	Unknown
Strength2:	28 aircraft
Casualties1:	27 killed (SOHR claim)^[1] 4 killed (Syrian claim)^[2] 4 SAM systems (Israeli claim)^[3] ^[4]
Casualties2:	None

The May 2018 Israel–Iran clashes were a series of short military confrontations between Israeli and Iranian forces in Syria.^[5] On 10 May 2018 the Israeli military stated that Iranian forces in Syria launched 20 rockets against Israeli army positions on Western Golan Heights.^{[6] [7]} The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the attack occurred after Baath, a town in the demilitarised zone, was bombarded by Israeli forces.^[8] According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) some missiles were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome system, while some fell short in Syrian territory.^[9]

Following this, Israel launched an extensive strike in Syria against Iranian targets, called Operation House of Cards (Hebrew: מִבְצָע בֵּית הַקְלָפִים; mivtza beit haKlafim ) targeting Iranian military bases in Syria.^[10] Syria state media called the attacks an act of Israeli aggression on Syrian territories. Iran denied Israeli claims, stating it had neither fired rockets against Israel nor had any military bases in Syria. During the operation, the Israel Air Force destroyed a number of Syrian air defense batteries, including a Pantsir-S1 system, a S-75 Dvina system, a S-200 missile system radar, and a Buk missile system.^[4]

The clash came during rising tensions between Israeli and Iranian forces in Syria, including threats by the leader of Iran's Quds Force in Syria, Qasem Soleimani, to attack Israel.^[11] The incidents also came just a day after the US announced it was withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal.^[12]

Background

See also: Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian Civil War and February 2018 Israel–Syria incident.

On 10 February 2018, an Israeli F-16I was shot down by the Syrian air defenses after conducting an air raid on Iran-backed positions inside Syrian territory. The aircraft was part of a larger Israeli aerial dispatch which Israel said was sent in response to detection of an Iranian drone entering Israeli airspace.^{[13] [14]} Two hours after the downing of the jet, Israel began attacking additional targets inside Syria, including air defense sites.^[15]

On 9 April, Israeli aircraft targeted the T-4 air base in the Syrian province of Homs, killing up to 14 soldiers, including seven Iranians, two days after a reported chemical attack was carried out by the Syrian government.^[16]

On 30 April 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of pursuing a program of nuclear weapons development.^{[17] [18]}

On 8 May 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.^[19] The same day Israeli air strikes targeted Syrian army positions in the southern Damascus area of Al-Kiswah, killing 15 people, including 8 Iranians according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.^{[20] [21] [16]} According to reports, the targets were Iranian rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory.^[20]

Events

On 10 May, Iranian forces on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights reportedly fired around 20 Fajr-5 rockets towards Israeli army positions, though there were no damage or injuries.^{[6] [7]} Abolfazl Hassanbeigi, Vice Chairman of Iran's Supreme National Security Council denied Iran was behind the rocket attack on Israel, stating that "Teheran has nothing to do with the missiles launched at Israel from Syria overnight Wednesday".^[22] According to the Fox News the Iranian missile barrage was done without the notification of the Syrian government.^[23]

The Israeli army stated that in response, it launched "Operation House of Cards",^[24] the "most extensive strike in Syria in decades", attacking dozens of alleged Iranian targets. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, this involved 28 warplanes and the firing of 70 missiles.^[25]

According to Israeli sources, the targets hit by Israel, included Iranian intelligence sites operated by the Quds Force.^[26]

• Logistics headquarters of the Quds Force.
• A military compound and logistics complex of the Quds Force in Kiswah.
• An Iranian military camp north of Damascus.
• Weapons storage sites belonging to the Quds Force at Damascus International Airport.
• Intelligence systems and installations associated with the Quds Force.
• Observation, military posts and weapons in the buffer zone.
• In addition, the Iranian launcher from which missiles were fired at the Golan Heights was destroyed.

The Israel Air Force hit Syrian air defense batteries (SA-5 radar, SA-2, SA-22, SA-17) belonging to the Syrian army, that fired surface-to-air missiles on Israeli warplanes.^{[27] [28]} The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated that at least 23 soldiers were killed in Israeli attacks, 5 Syrians and 18 "foreigners".^[29] The IDF estimated that nearly all Iranian infrastructure in Syria was hit.^[30]

After the incidents, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, "I hope we finished this chapter, and everyone got the message".^[31] Iranian Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said, "The holy system of the Islamic Republic will step up its missile capabilities day by day so that... if [Israel] does anything foolish, we will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground."^[32] On May 22, Israel's air force commander, Major General Amikam Norkin, reported that Iran fired 32 rocket at Israel during the incidents, while more than 100 surface-to-air missiles were fired from Syria against Israeli jets. He also stated that IAF used its F-35 stealth fighters to attack Iranian targets, making Israel the first country in the world to carry out an operational attack with such aircraft.^[33]

Reactions

• – Iran has denied Israel's allegations that it launched rocket attacks on its forces in the occupied Golan Heights, calling the claims "fabricated" and "baseless".^[34]
• – White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said "Israel absolutely has a sovereign right to defend itself. The Iranian regime's deployment into Syria of offensive rocket and missile systems aimed at Israel is an unacceptable and highly dangerous development for the entire Middle East. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bears full responsibility for the consequences of its reckless actions." The White House also demanded that the IRGC and Hezbollah "refrain from any further provocations," and called on "all nations to make clear that Iran's actions pose a severe threat to international peace and stability."
• – The French Foreign Ministry said its country has an "unwavering commitment to Israel's security" and that it "condemns any attempt to undermine it." It called on both Israel and Iran to exercise restraint, while demanding that "Iran refrain from any military provocation" and "warned it against any temptation toward regional hegemony."
• – British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman told reporters in London, "We condemn Iran's attack on Israel. Israel has every right to defend itself. We call on Iran to refrain from any further attacks and for calm on all sides. We call on Russia to use its influence in Syria to prevent further Iranian attacks."
• – The German Foreign Ministry said: "We are deeply concerned by reports about last night's Iranian rocket attacks on Israeli army outposts. These attacks are a severe provocation that we most strongly condemn. We have always emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, it is key that the situation does not escalate any further. This particularly means we must do everything we can to finally arrive to a sustainable political solution to the conflict in Syria — it is needed to end the suffering of the Syrian population and to not further threaten stability in the region."^[35]
• — Geng Shuang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated "We have taken note of all the relevant reports and hope that all the parties concerned will remain calm, show restraint and make joint efforts to achieve regional peace and stability."^[36]
• – The Bahraini foreign minister issued a statement supporting Israel's right to self defense from Iranian aggression.^[37]
• Hamas – Hamas condemned "the continuation of the occupation army targeting the Palestinian people and the countries of the region and its escalation on Syrian territory." Hamas said in a press statement that targeting was proof that the occupation was "the main enemy of the nation and the greatest threat to it and the source of terrorism in the region." The movement stressed that it is "the right of the Arab and Islamic countries to defend their territories and respond strongly to any aggression. This requires harnessing all the nation's energies and capabilities to deter the enemy and break its prestige and thwart its plans aimed at the Palestinian cause and the region and the nation's capabilities."^[38]

See also

• Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War
• March 2017 Israel–Syria incident
• February 2018 Israel–Syria incident
• September 2018 Syria missile strikes

Notes and References

1. News: Eleven Iranians killed in Israeli strikes in Syria, says monitor. 12 May 2018. en-GB. 12 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011258/http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/11-iranians-killed-israelis-strikes-says-monito-1292079333. 13 May 2018. live.
2. Web site: Israeli attack in Syria allegedly killed 11 Iranian soldiers: monitor. 12 May 2018. 12 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180513071351/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-attack-in-syria-killed-11-iranian-soldiers-report/. 13 May 2018. live.
3. News: The IDF struck an SA22 aerial interception system as part of a wide-scale attack against Iranian military sites in Syria. 10 May 2018. en-GB. 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511051452/https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/994625305007607813. 11 May 2018. live.
4. https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/security-q2_2018/Article-32d647560884361004.htm "We hit most Iranian infrastructure"
5. Web site: Kershner . Isabel . Halbfinger . David M. . 10 May 2018 . Israeli Jets Hit Dozens of Iranian Targets in Syria . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510222000/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/world/middleeast/israel-iran-syria-military.html . 10 May 2018 . 10 May 2018 . New York Times.
6. News: Morris . Loveday . 10 May 2018 . Iranian forces fire rockets at Israeli military in first direct attack ever, Israel's army says . The Washington Post . live . limited . 11 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510213708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iranian-forces-fire-rockets-at-israeli-military-in-first-direct-attack-ever-israeli-army-says/2018/05/09/62e3a526-52f7-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html?noredirect=on . 10 May 2018.
7. Web site: Ahronheim . Anna . 10 May 2018 . PROJECTILES FIRED TOWARDS ISRAELI FORWARD DEFENSIVE LINE IN THE GOLAN . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510021308/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Shots-fired-towards-Israeli-communities-in-the-Golan-556017 . 10 May 2018 . 10 May 2018 . Jerusalem Post.
8. News: McKernan . Bethan . 10 May 2018 . Israel and Iran on brink of war after unprecedented Syria bombardment in response to alleged Golan Heights attack . The Independent . live . 9 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180630111945/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-iran-war-latest-syria-golan-heights-rocket-air-strikes-a8344291.html . 30 June 2018.
9. Web site: IDF: Iranian forces fire 20 rockets at Israel; Iron Dome intercepts some. Judah Ari. Gross. Times of Israel. 10 May 2018. 11 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511112802/https://www.timesofisrael.com/sirens-sound-in-golan-heights-residents-urged-to-enter-shelters/. 11 May 2018. live.
10. Web site: Gross . Judah Ari . 10 May 2018 . 'Operation House of Cards,' the IAF mission to cripple Iran's presence in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510202804/https://www.timesofisrael.com/operation-house-of-cards-the-iaf-mission-to-destroy-irans-presence-in-syria/ . 10 May 2018 . 11 May 2018 . Times of Israel.
11. Web site: 15 February 2018 . Head of Iran's secret operations overseas threatens to 'erase Zionist entity' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511220853/https://www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-irans-secret-operations-overseas-threatens-to-erase-zionist-entity/ . 11 May 2018 . 11 May 2018 . Times of Israel.
12. News: Lieber . Dov . Nissenbaum . Dion . 10 May 2018 . Israel Strikes Iranian Targets in Syria as Regional Tensions Mount . en-GB . The Wall Street Journal . live . 10 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510143406/https://www.wsj.com/articles/iranian-forces-fire-rockets-at-israeli-targets-in-golan-1525912963 . 10 May 2018.
13. News: Lubell . Maayan . Barrington . Lisa . 11 February 2018 . Israeli jet shot down after bombing Iranian site in Syria . Reuters . live . 13 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180214014431/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-iran/israel-shoots-down-iranian-drone-strikes-iranian-targets-in-syria-army-idUSKBN1FU07L . 14 February 2018.
14. News: Ahronheim . Anna . 10 February 2018 . Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria, IAF F-16 shot down . The Jerusalem Post . live . 10 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210150230/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israeli-Air-Force-strikes-Iranian-targets-in-Syria-542191 . 10 February 2018.
15. News: Israel Downs Iranian Drone, Strikes Syria; Israeli F-16 Shot Down, Pilots Safe. Kubovich. Yaniv. 10 February 2018. Haaretz. 10 February 2018. Shpigel. Noa. en. Khoury. Jack. https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120034/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/red-alert-sirens-sound-heavy-aerial-activity-in-northern-israel-1.5806508. 10 February 2018. live.
16. Web site: Eight Iranians among 15 killed in suspected Israeli strike in Syria. 10 May 2018 . 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511222619/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=91673. 11 May 2018. live.
17. News: Israel says Iran hid nuclear arms programme. 30 April 2018. BBC News. 30 April 2018. en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20180430192041/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43952196. 30 April 2018. live.
18. News: Netanyahu: Iran had secret 'Project Amad' to design, produce and test warheads. DiChristopher. Tom. 30 April 2018. CNBC. 30 April 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501080258/https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/04/30/netanyahu-claims-to-show-irans-secret-nuclear-files-obtained-by-israel.html. 1 May 2018. live.
19. News: Morris . Loveday . Eglash . Ruth . Loveluck . Louisa . 10 May 2018 . Israel launches massive military strike against Iranian targets in Syria . The Washington Post . live . limited . 10 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510094655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-says-retaliation-just-thetip-of-the-iceberg-after-iran-blamed-for-overnight-strikes/2018/05/10/bd2fde18-53e8-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html . 10 May 2018.
20. Web site: Aftermath of Israel strikes targeting Syria army position near Kisweh. 9 May 2018 . 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180517055647/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=91610. 17 May 2018. live.
21. Web site: Syrian Observatory: Israeli raid in Syria killed Iranians. 10 May 2018 . 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180914223225/http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=91662. 14 September 2018. live.
22. News: Salami . Daniel . 10 May 2018 . Iranian official: 'We have nothing to do with missiles launched at Israel' . YNET News . 10 May 2018 . YNET News . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510105852/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5256495,00.html . 10 May 2018 . live .
23. Web site: 10 May 2018 . Iran attacked Israel from Syria without notifying Damascus – report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511220317/https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-attacked-israel-without-notifying-damascus-report/ . 11 May 2018 . 11 May 2018 . Times of Israel.
24. Web site: Gross . Judah Ari . 'Operation House of Cards,' the IAF mission to cripple Iran's presence in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510202804/https://www.timesofisrael.com/operation-house-of-cards-the-iaf-mission-to-destroy-irans-presence-in-syria/ . 10 May 2018 . 2023-04-19 . Times of Israel . en-US.
25. News: Harel . Amos . Kubovich . Yaniv . Khoury . Jack . Tibon . Amir . Shpigel . Noa . 10 May 2018 . Israel Launches Most Extensive Strike in Syria in Decades After Iranian Rocket Barrage . . live . 10 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510114449/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-launches-extensive-syria-strike-after-iranian-rocket-barrage-1.6073938 . 10 May 2018.
26. Web site: Finkel . Gal Perl . 6 October 2018 . Don't 'poke the bear' in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181007044638/https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Dont-poke-the-bear-in-Syria-568798 . 7 October 2018 . 2023-04-19 . The Jerusalem Post . en-US.
27. Web site: Finkler . Kobi . Baruch . Uzi . 10 May 2018 . IDF attacks dozens of Iranian targets in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511215008/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/245725 . 11 May 2018 . 12 May 2018 . Israel National News.
28. Web site: Israeli strikes in Syria said to kill at least 23, 18 of them foreigners. . 12 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511220424/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-strikes-on-syria-said-to-kill-at-least-23-18-of-them-foreigners/. 11 May 2018. live.
29. Web site: At least 23 fighters killed after Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria . 10 May 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511215930/http://www.thejournal.ie/israel-iran-rockets-4002087-May2018/ . 11 May 2018 . 12 May 2018.
30. Web site: Bob . Yonah Jeremy . 10 May 2018 . Liberman: We hit almost all Iranian infrastructure in Syria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180512051611/https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Liberman-We-hit-almost-all-Iranian-infrastructure-in-Syria-556037 . 12 May 2018 . 12 May 2018.
31. Web site: Hume . Tim . May 10, 2018 . Israel and Iran are attacking each other — and it could lead to outright war . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511013350/https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/7xmppq/israel-iran-fire-syria-outright-war-trump . 11 May 2018 . 10 May 2018 . Vice.
32. Web site: Iranian cleric threatens destruction of Israeli cities. POLITICO.
33. News: Kubovich . Yaniv . 22 May 2018 . Israel Is First Country in World to Carry Out 'Operational Attack' With the F-35 Stealth Fighter, Air Force Chief Says . Haaretz . 22 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522120431/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/iranians-fired-32-rockets-at-israel-during-flare-up-israeli-air-force-1.6110706 . 22 May 2018 . live .
34. News: Iran: Israeli claims are 'fabricated' and 'baseless'. Al Jazeera. 11 May 2018. 11 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511091655/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2018/05/iran-israeli-claims-fabricated-baseless-180511063809142.html. 11 May 2018. live.
35. News: U.K., GERMANY, FRANCE BACK ISRAEL'S STRIKES AGAINST IRAN IN SYRIA. Jerusalem Post. 10 May 2018. 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511022326/https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/UK-Germany-back-Israeli-right-to-defensive-strikes-against-Iran-in-Syria-556077. 11 May 2018. live.
36. Web site: 11 May 2018 . 2018年5月11日外交部发言人耿爽主持例行记者会 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240613123542/http://lk.china-embassy.gov.cn/fyrth/201805/t20180511_1490363.htm . 13 June 2024 . 13 June 2024 . lk.china-embassy.gov.cn . zh.
37. Web site: Bahraini official supports Israel's right to defend itself. 10 May 2018. JTA. 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510225515/https://www.jta.org/2018/05/10/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/bahraini-official-supports-israels-right-defend. 10 May 2018. live.
38. Web site: 10 May 2018 . حماس تدين استهداف سوريا وتؤكد أن "إسرائيل العدو الرئيس للأمة" – وكالة وطن للأنباء . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510120558/http://www.wattan.tv/ar/news/251943.html . 10 May 2018 . 10 May 2018 . Wattan . ar.