The decision to involve troops on the ground who were armed with demolition charges was made to ensure that the facility was destroyed entirely, the officials said. Israel had struck the facility repeatedly in the past, and in 2018 it assassinated a Syrian rocket scientist who worked at the center developing precision-guided munitions.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) - a UK-based monitoring group with a network of sources on the ground - Israeli air and artillery strikes have targeted Syrian territory on more than 60 occasions since the start of the year.

The IDF says the “elimination” of Mohammed Qassem Al-Shaer will impair the Iran-backed militant group’s ability to launch attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon.

The missile production facility was destroyed in the attack, according to Western officials. Syrian state media reported that 18 people were killed in the strike.

Hamas considers US hostage deal • Gaza strike allegedly kills 6 UNRWA staff • Soldier killed in West Bank ramming attack | Page 2 of 2

Israeli special forces killed at least 16 people and struck a blow against a suspected Iranian missile factory, U.S. officials said.