According to local reports, an airstrike was carried out between Sunday night and Monday (8-9.9.24) targeting sites near the city of Masyaf in northwestern Syria. The strike was directed at several locations belonging to Institute 4000 (‘Sector 4’) of the SSRC (Scientific Studies and Research Center) near Masyaf.
As we have previously reported, the SSRC is officially defined as a research and scientific studies center operating under the auspices of the Syrian government. The institute includes at least 18 facilities scattered across Syria and, until a few years ago, served as the core of Syria’s military industry. SSRC is responsible for the research, development, and production of various weaponry, ranging from vests and helmets to barrel bombs, Burkan rockets, UAVs, and Fateh 110 missiles (known in Syria as M-600).
Institute 4000 facilities are spread across several sites in the geographical area of Masyaf (Al-Sheikh Ghadhban, Wadi Jahannam, Tala’ea Al-Baath, and Dhahr Rameh Ahmad) in northwestern Syria. At this point, it is unclear which site was targeted.
The primary focus of Institute 4000 is the development and production of rockets and missiles, with a particular emphasis on the precision project for Hezbollah. Other activities include the production of UAVs, bombs, as well as propellants fuels for missiles and rockets. Engineers and researchers operating at SSRC facilities are involved in various military projects aimed at upgrading the capabilities of Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Lebanon. The institute houses experts from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, Syria, Hezbollah, and North Korea.
In recent years, as Iran deepened its involvement in Syria, it increased its control over the SSRC in general and Institute 4000 in particular. It is estimated that Iran now controls most of the center’s operations.
The Iranian takeover of SSRC, a significant platform for knowledge and production, is intended to assist Iran in the research, development, and production of various weaponry, as well as shortening the length of the land corridor. Weapon production on Syrian soil saves logistical efforts and reduces the risk of shipment interception.
Institute 4000 facilities in Masyaf and nearby air defense sites have been targeted several times in recent years. These strikes likely caused some damage and delays to the institute’s operations but did not completely stop or prevent them.
On August 25, 2022, a significant airstrike was carried out against Institute 4000’s main site in the Masyaf area. This and previous strikes likely severely damaged the institute’s production infrastructure, including a large missile arsenal stored there, intended for Hezbollah, and possibly for Shiite militias in Syria.
According to several indications, an Iranian delegation arrived at Institute 4000 in Masyaf on September 23, 2022, to oversee the site’s reconstruction following the airstrikes. In October 2022, Iranian efforts to rehabilitate the Institute 4000 site began. Two Iranian companies involved in the site’s restoration were the IRGC-affiliated Khatam Al-Anbiya and Mabna Al-Omran, which transported construction materials like cement, iron, and steel through the port of Banias. Reconstruction efforts continued until early 2023.
On March 13, 2023, another site in the Wadi Ayoun area, west of Masyaf, was struck, likely on Route 54, which connects Masyaf to the coastal city of Tartus. At the time, it was unclear whether a weapons convoy from one of Institute 4000’s sites was attacked or if the institute’s site itself was hit.
Additional strikes related to SSRC sites occurred in September 2023 and March 2024, near Hama and Aleppo, respectively. Last night’s attack occurred after a long period during which SSRC sites in Syria were not targeted. So far, at least 14 deaths and around 40 injuries have been reported. At this stage, it remains unclear which site was hit and the extent of the damage.
In May 2024, we published a position paper on the SSRC, recommending a wide-scale strike on all SSRC sites in Syria to destroy them. Destroying the SSRC sites would be a strategic blow to Iran’s efforts in Syria and severely impact the development and production of weaponry and Iran’s weapons corridor to Hezbollah and various militias. This is particularly relevant now, as Iran continues its efforts to transfer weapons to Hezbollah during the ongoing war with Israel.
Another significant aspect of such an operation would be sending a clear message to Iran regarding Israel’s intent to prevent further Iranian entrenchment in Syria.
