According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have advanced into Syrian territory, marking their deepest incursion since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Troops from the 603rd Battalion, part of the Combat Engineering Corps, have secured a position near Tel Hadar, approximately 20 kilometers from Damascus. This advancement underscores both the IDF's operational strength and weaknesses in Syrian defenses.
Captain Uri Almog, the company commander of the 603rd Battalion, outlined the mission's swift progression. "We left Al-Hiam last Wednesday for a weekend break. By Sunday, we were on Syrian soil," Almog stated. He praised the soldiers' morale and readiness, noting their awareness of the mission's significance.
While preparing for scenarios involving Hezbollah and Hamas, IDF units found themselves navigating unanticipated challenges in Syria. "We weren't trained for Syrian scenarios; we learned about Hezbollah and Hamas. Now, even with no enemy present, the terrain itself poses challenges," Almog said. He described the Syrian outposts as poorly maintained and largely abandoned in their sector, with outdated and deteriorated equipment, including rusty tanks.
During their operations, IDF forces uncovered Syrian logs documenting Israeli movements along the border. Despite Syria's surveillance efforts, the findings reflected inefficiencies in execution. Almog also commented on the professionalism of Syrian military teams in maintaining base conditions but noted that equipment like night-vision devices was non-functional.
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