Images taken by Planet Labs PBC and provided by Aurora Intel, a network that provides news and updates based on open source intelligence, appear to show that some buildings at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research, known as CERS or SSRC, at the base were completely destroyed. Western officials and media reports have long associated the CERS facility with the production of precision surface-to-surface missiles, including the casting process for solid rocket motors, as well as chemical weapons. According to the United States, sarin gas was developed at this center, a charge denied by Syrian authorities. The area around Masyaf, which is believed to be used as a base for Iranian forces and pro-Iranian militias, has been repeatedly targeted in recent years in attacks widely attributed to Israel. Buildings in CERS have also been targeted many times. Aurora Intel estimated that at least nine buildings were “heavily damaged” in Thursday’s attack, based on viewing satellite images before Thursday’s attack, and new images on Saturday. Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms The group said some of the buildings were apparently hit directly, while others were damaged, possibly by secondary explosions or fires. Additionally, satellite images show that one of the buildings damaged in the attack appeared to be under construction. In these before-and-after satellite images taken on August 25 and 27, 2022, damage is seen at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research in Masyaf, Syria. (Planet Labs PBC via Aurora Intel) According to the official Syrian news agency SANA, two civilians were injured in the airstrike attributed to Israel on the site on Thursday night. Other media outlets in the country reported that a Syrian officer later died of his injuries in the attack. SANA reported that damage was caused to the affected areas and that there were fires in the area as a result. According to Syrian media reports on Saturday, firefighting aircraft attempted to put out the fires in the area, which were still burning nearly two days after the attack. A satellite image on Saturday showed a blackened landscape around CERS from the fire. Syria: Helicopters and firefighting aircraft were brought in to control fires caused by Israeli airstrikes at weapons/ammunition depots near Masyaf. Whatever was inside the Scientific Research Facilities is unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/ey231hwr90 — QalaatM (@QalaatM) August 27, 2022 The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an unclearly funded opposition war watchdog, claimed 1,000 Iranian-made missiles were destroyed at the site in Thursday’s strike. The unverified claim was widely reported in the Jewish media, despite the fact that the organization, which is run by a single person, has been regularly accused by Syrian war analysts of false reports, inflating the number of casualties, as well as inventing them wholesale. Syria: dozens of secondary explosions east of Masyaf one hour after airstrikes. Looks like Israel hit a major ammunition depot despite regular strikes in that area. pic.twitter.com/nTnXli9E4J — QalaatM (@QalaatM) August 25, 2022 The Israeli military typically does not comment on specific strikes in Syria, but has admitted to carrying out hundreds of sorties against Iran-backed groups trying to gain a foothold in the country. It also says it is attacking arms shipments believed to be destined for those groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. It’s not (only) for you. Supporting The Times of Israel is not a transaction for an online service, such as subscribing to Netflix. 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