- September 17, 2024
- 1:33 pm
- Middle East
Ukraine continues to deploy its special operations far beyond its own borders, demonstrating its ability to put pressure on Russian forces in various regions, including Syria. One of the key operations was the attack on September 15, 2024, carried out by a special unit of the GUR codenamed “Khimik” on a Russian military base near Aleppo, this reports Kyiv Post, citing a source in military intelligence.
The base played an important role in the Russian military infrastructure, as it produced and tested the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that Russia uses on both the Syrian and Ukrainian fronts. It also produced camouflaged explosive devices, which the special forces found and destroyed during the operation. The explosion destroyed a significant amount of ammunition, which dealt a serious blow to Russian capabilities in Syria.
The Aleppo operation was not the only attack by Ukrainian forces against Russian troops in Syria. In late July, GUR units attacked Russian positions at the Kuweires airfield east of Aleppo, damaging military equipment. In early June, Ukrainian special forces carried out a series of attacks on checkpoints, strongholds, and columns of Russian troops on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. These actions can be seen as part of the GUR strategy to inflict maximum damage on Russian forces in Syria, which are vulnerable after the transfer of a significant portion of Russian troops and equipment to the war in Ukraine.
Russian troops have been supporting Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria since 2015, helping to suppress armed rebels. However, amid the war in Ukraine, Moscow has weakened its military power in the region, opening the door for attacks by Ukrainian forces. Russia has also been actively recruiting Syrian mercenaries for the war in Ukraine, using the Khmeimim base on the Syrian coast, where Syrian fighters are given Russian passports for their subsequent integration into the Russian forces. This recruitment strategy is a response to the growing casualties and shortage of personnel in the Russian army.
The report from the Turkish publication also deserves attention. Aydinlikclaiming that a Ukrainian delegation visited Syria's Idlib, which is under the control of the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly associated with Al-Qaeda), to negotiate cooperation. According to Aydinlik, the Ukrainians agreed with the group to release Chechen militant Omar al-Shishani from captivity, as well as other Chechen and Georgian fighters, in exchange for the delivery of 75 drones. These militants, with extensive experience in the Syrian war, could become an important reinforcement for Ukraine, especially in the context of using their experience in the fight against Putin's Russian regime and his ally Ramzan Kadyrov.
The Aydinlik publication also emphasizes that Ukrainian military intelligence actively cooperates with Kurdish formations in Syria, which are also fighting against the Assad regime and Russian allies. Interaction with rebel forces, including radical elements, allows Ukraine to expand its capabilities to create new fronts against Russia on Syrian territory.
Thus, Ukraine is effectively opening up additional resources and fronts for the fight against Russia in Syria. In this context, the operation of Ukrainian special forces to strike Russian positions not only harms immediate targets, but also demonstrates the political and strategic flexibility of Kyiv, which uses all available means to weaken the enemy.
Benefit for Israel
Israel, which has been closely monitoring the situation in Syria since 2011 and has occasionally conducted military operations against pro-Iranian forces in the country, could benefit greatly from Ukrainian activity in the region. Above all, weakening Russia’s position in Syria, especially near areas where Israel’s allies or adversaries (such as Iran and Hezbollah) operate, reduces the risk of increased Iranian influence.
Russia’s military presence in Syria has deterred Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in the region for years. Moscow has often acted as a mediator between Israel and Tehran, complicating Israel’s military campaign against Iranian forces and Hezbollah in Syria. Weakening Russia in the region could give Israel more freedom to conduct military operations aimed at containing the Iranian presence. Russia has also cooperated with the Syrian government and forces that Israel views as a direct threat to its security.
It is also important to note that weakening Russian military power in Syria will make it more difficult for Iran and its allies to obtain advanced weapons systems, such as Russian drones and anti-aircraft missiles, which play an important role in conflicts in the Middle East. Reducing Russian support could also reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah and other anti-Israel groups.
Therefore, Ukrainian activity in Syria is beneficial to Israel, as it undermines the potential of Russian forces and their allies in the region, opening up new opportunities for Israeli defense and reducing the threat from Iranian and pro-Russian groups.
