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THE MYTH OF ISRAELI INVINCIBILITY. PART X

2013-2025 – Intervention in Syria

           In the 2010s, Israel maintained its dominance in the Middle East through the same assets: US support, intelligence services, air power, and technological superiority. The 'blitzkrieg' was no longer relevant. Regarding the security of its territory and population, however, certain problems still existed. Neighboring states no longer posed any threat, but the danger represented by Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, remained. The major problem was that the Israeli armed forces had failed to diminish the group's capability to launch attacks. On the contrary, the group's capabilities were growing, and nothing seemed to prevent this. Additionally, another danger came from the Gaza Strip. Following the complete withdrawal of the armed forces and the evacuation of Israeli settlements there in 2005, the Hamas group took full control of this area in 2007[1]. Shortly after the withdrawal, in the same month (September 2005), rocket launches from the strip into Israeli territory began [2].

          In March 2011, a major crisis erupted in Syria, which would soon lead to a civil war. The government quite quickly lost control over a large part of the country as various opposition factions developed their military capabilities. Several state and non-state actors intervened in the conflict, supporting both the various groups opposing the regime and the regime itself. For Israel, the weakening of the Syrian government and its loss of territorial control was a major advantage because, automatically, there was a chance that a key backer of Hezbollah would disappear and, at the same time, its supply routes would be eliminated. Practically, an Iranian outpost next to Israel was in jeopardy. Therefore, Hezbollah deployed significant forces from Lebanon to Syria, and the Iranian leadership sent approximately 2,000 military personnel to Syria to fight on the government's side[3]. And because of this, Israeli forces executed military operations on Syrian territory to strike Iranian forces and pro-Iranian groups.[4]

          Information regarding Israeli military actions in Syria during the civil war is rather vaguely reported in the mass media. Nevertheless, let us attempt to construct a chronology:

January 30, 2013: Several Israeli military aircraft fly over Lebanon, briefly enter Syrian airspace, and launch eight air-to-surface missiles that strike the Military Scientific Research Center in Damascus; reports emerge in the international media that the actual target of the attack was an Iranian convoy transporting weapons for Hezbollah (including SA-17/9K37 Buk anti-aircraft missiles); simultaneously, an insurgent group carries out a mortar attack on the aforementioned center; an insurgent leader claims that, as a result of the attack, a high-ranking commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was killed, along with several associates.[5]

May 3 – 5, 2013:

-       Several targets are hit, including the Military Scientific Research Center in Damascus, Damascus International Airport, the barracks of a tank division, and a Republican Guard base; a shipment of weapons and ammunition for Hezbollah is also attacked in a Damascus suburb; powerful explosions are reported in an area located 15 km from the Lebanese border; powerful explosions are also reported in the town of Qudssaya, near Damascus.

-       Israeli officials state that the objective of the operations is to stop the supply of surface-to-surface missiles to Hezbollah; among these, M600 missiles are mentioned (the Syrian version of the Iranian Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missile – range of 300 km, payload of 500 kg).

-       Elements of the Iron Dome anti-missile system are deployed in northern Israel.

-       The Arab League condemns the Israeli attacks in Syria and calls on the UN Security Council to compel Israel to stop its actions.

-       The US president announces that he supports Israel's military actions.[6]

December 2014: The Israeli air force conducts two raids on targets near the Syrian capital [7].

January 18, 2015: 6 important Hezbollah members and an Iranian general are killed in an airstrike in the Quneitra Governorate (southern Syria)[8].

December 2015: A high-ranking Hezbollah leader is killed in an airstrike near Damascus[9].

December 2016: Israeli airstrikes target the Syrian Air Force Intelligence headquarters at the Mazzeh Air Base, near Damascus[10].

January 2017: The Mazzeh Air Base is bombarded several times[11].

March 2017: Israeli fighter jets strike weapons shipments bound for Hezbollah, near Palmyra[12].

April 2017: A huge explosion occurs near Damascus International Airport; Syrian media blames Israeli forces for it; independent sources claim that an ammunition depot bound for Hezbollah was hit.[13]

August 2017: The Mossad chief is received by the US president, and the Israeli prime minister meets with the president of the Russian Federation; at both meetings, Israel demands that pro-Iranian groups stay at least 40 kilometers away from the Israeli border.[14]

September 2017: The Israeli Air Force strikes a weapons factory in the town of Masyaf (northwestern Syria); according to Israeli sources, it was producing precision weapons for Hezbollah. [15]

September 13, 2017: Israeli territory is hit by mortar shells from Syrian territory; in retaliation, Israeli fighter jets attack the mortar firing positions; the Syrian air defense launches two missiles at them; Syrian sources claim they shot down a plane and a drone; Israeli representatives deny it. [16]

September 17, 2017: A missile launched by the Syrian air defense accidentally shoots down a Russian electronic surveillance aircraft (Il-20); Russian officials accuse Israeli fighter jets executing a guided bomb attack on targets in the Latakia Governorate (on the Mediterranean coast) of using the Russian aircraft as a shield to protect themselves from Syrian anti-aircraft missiles. [17]

October 2017: The Syrian air defense launches a missile at an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flying over Lebanon; in retaliation, the Israeli Air Force destroys an anti-aircraft missile battery located near Damascus. [18]

December 2017: Airstrikes are conducted against a scientific research center in Damascus and an ammunition depot.[19]

2018: Iranian forces deploy short- and medium-range missiles; in response, the strike campaign expands, targeting mainly military and civilian airports; among these are the Mezzeh military airfield (Damascus), Damascus International Airport, Aleppo International Airport, and the T4 air base.

February 10, 2018: Following the incursion of an Iranian drone into Israeli airspace, Israeli fighter jets execute strikes against targets on Syrian territory; the Syrian air defense manages to shoot down an F-16, which crashes on Israeli territory.[20]

May 2018: The Israeli Air Force executes strikes against Iranian forces and Syrian anti-aircraft batteries; in retaliation, Iranian forces launch 20 missiles at Israel.[21]

October 2018: The delivery of S-300 anti-aircraft missile batteries from the Russian Federation to Syrian forces is finalized.[22]

2019: The Israeli Air Force is conducting approximately 70 airstrikes against targets of Iranian forces and pro-Iranian groups, with most targets located in western and southern Syria[23].

January 2019: Israeli fighter jets (possibly F-35s) strike Damascus airport, destroying a radar and a Pantsir-S air defense system[24] (made in Russian Federation).

February 14, 2019: The Israeli air force destroys a Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile system[25] (this may be the same operation reported by some media sources in January – author's note).

August 2019: The Israeli Air Force conducts multiple raids inside Iraq, targeting weapons depots and convoys destined for Hezbollah [26].

September 19, 2019: Israeli media sources claim that Israeli fighter jets flew over Damascus without being detected [27].

October 2019: Iranian forces are establishing a military base on the Syria-Iraq border [28].

December 24, 2019: The Israeli Air Force attacks three targets near Damascus; at least one air-to-surface missile is shot down by Syrian air defenses, a detail confirmed by Israeli sources.[29]

2020: The Israeli Air Force is conducting approximately 70 airstrikes against targets of Iranian forces and pro-Iranian groups; compared to the previous year, the scope of the strikes has expanded toward the center of the country.[30]

February 2020: Four Israeli F-35 Adir fighter jets strike an Iranian convoy heading toward Aleppo; to execute the mission, they flew over Jordan and Iraq, being refueled in mid-air.[31]

August 6, 2020: Israeli sources announce the elimination of a senior Hezbollah member following an airstrike; meanwhile, the same sources state that Israeli forces' ammunition stockpiles have significantly decreased due to numerous attacks against the Hezbollah group, requiring urgent deliveries from the US.[32]

January – March 2021: The Israeli Air Force continues its campaign targeting Iranian objectives; over 20 raids are executed.[33]

2022: Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory no longer focus on targets belonging to Hezbollah and Iranian forces, but rather on Syrian military infrastructure (52% of attacks) and civilian infrastructure – ports, airports, etc. (29% of attacks)[34].

2023: Statistics on Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory show that 47% targeted military and national infrastructure, 24% targeted Hezbollah objectives, 24% Iranian forces, and 5% weapons transfers[35].

January – September 2024: The air campaign intensifies; 43 strikes are conducted; 16 raids each are carried out against the cities of Damascus and Hama, targeting missile and drone factories, military convoys, and weapons depot.

March 17, 2024: Multiple missile airstrikes are executed, targeting objectives in the south of the country; among these are two military bases in the vicinity of Damascus.[36]

March 29, 2024: A weapons depot located south of Aleppo is struck, killing 36 Syrian soldiers and 6 Hezbollah members [37].

April 1, 2024: The Iranian consulate in Damascus is struck, killing seven people, including two Iranian generals and a Hezbollah leader [38].

May 27, 2024: Airstrikes on the city of Aleppo; several people killed, including an Iranian military advisor [39].

September 9, 2024: Massive strikes carried out on targets located in the Masyaf district of Hama; official Syrian sources report 18 dead and 37 wounded, but much higher numbers are estimated. [40]

September 12, 2024: Israeli Special Forces carry out a raid on a weapons factory located near the border with Lebanon; according to Israeli sources, production was intended to supply Hezbollah [41].

October 1, 2024: Israeli forces destroy three Syrian forces' radars in the south of the country using attack drones [42].

December 8, 2024: Al-Assad regime collapses.

December 9, 2024: Israeli troops advance into Syrian territory and occupy fortifications near the border [43].

December 9-19, 2024:  The Israeli Air Force carries out over 600 strikes in Syria, primarily targeting air and naval bases; Israeli forces occupy Mount Hermon, located in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria.[44]

January – June 2025: Israeli forces occupy an area of 460 square kilometers of Syrian territory; there, they establish 9 outposts, pave several roads, and mine multiple strips of land; the Israeli air force carries out, on average, an attack every 3 to 4 days on Syrian military infrastructure; in total, during this period, over 200 operations are executed using fighter jets, attack drones, and artillery; the majority of the attacks are on targets in the governorates of Daraa (57 attacks), Damascus (49 attacks), and Quneitra (25 attacks).[45]

End of April 2025: The Israeli Air Force carries out the most extensive strikes since the fall of the Syrian regime [46].

June 3, 2025: Two rockets launched from Syria land on Israeli territory; in retaliation, Israeli artillery strikes several targets on Syrian territory.

          The statistics of the attacks carried out by Israeli forces on Syrian territory (using fighter jets, drones, and artillery) between January 2017 and May 2025 are as follows [47]:

 


It is important to specify that the majority of the airstrikes carried out by Israeli forces were conducted from outside Syrian airspace, using air-to-surface missiles. Most of the time, Israeli fighter jets struck targets in Syria while flying over Lebanon and over the Mediterranean Sea.[48]

          The analysis of this military campaign is quite simple. Israel's air power is undeniable. Meanwhile, the adversary was involved in a fierce civil war, which massively diminished its defense capabilities. The precision of the attacks was clearly due to the efficiency of the intelligence services operating on the ground. In fact, in a country engulfed in civil war, foreign intelligence services feel like a fish in water. They can use various insurgent groups for their own purposes, officials can be corrupted quite easily, and counterintelligence services no longer have anywhere near the freedom they used to have during peacetime.

          It is noteworthy that the Syrian air defense could not prevent the Israeli attacks. It managed to shoot down a number—be it small or large (we cannot know)—of air-to-surface missiles. It recorded only one clear victory: the downing of an F-16. There was also information about other Israeli aircraft being hit, but it was not confirmed. This is understandable, as the Syrian armed forces were in crisis. They were fighting multiple enemies from different directions. Insurgent groups often adopted guerrilla tactics, which jeopardized radar and air response systems. At the same time, the civil war meant an economic crisis, which translated into a lack of resources. And spies and saboteurs were everywhere. The combat equipment was largely obsolete: S-125, S-200, and Buk[49]. Although a large number of missiles were launched (for example, by May 2018, over 100 had been used [50]), no aircraft were shot down (with a single exception), though missiles were intercepted. According to Syrian sources, the number of shot-down missiles was high, but we cannot be certain that the data is accurate and not part of the usual war propaganda. There was also information about drones being shot down, but in small numbers [51].

          Particularly interesting is the fact that the Israeli combat aviation avoided Syrian airspace. Most of the missions were executed from Lebanese airspace and over the Mediterranean, utilizing air-to-ground missiles. The Israeli aviators had at their disposal missiles with a range of between 60 and 250 km[52]. This means that the Israelis considered the Syrian air defense to be effective. Even in the case of F-35 aircraft, which possess stealth capabilities, experts believe they avoided entering Syrian airspace because the aircraft still presents some vulnerabilities (low speed, limited altitude, and reduced maneuverability), and the Israelis did not take the risk[53]. Lebanese airspace was preferred by the Israelis because the Syrian capital and many targets fell within the range of the missiles, and the terrain is advantageous for the attackers. Thus, Israeli jets would fly over valleys, appear suddenly from behind the mountain ranges of eastern Lebanon, launch their missiles, and disappear very quickly. The short exposure time on Syrian radars did not allow for an adequate reaction from the air defense. The distance between the central area of the Bekaa Valley and Damascus is approximately 70 km. There was another advantage: the Syrian air force was unable to retaliate, meaning it could not patrol the areas used by the Israelis and intercept their aircraft. This was because it was inferior in every aspect: technical, numerical, etc. To strike targets in eastern Syria, Israeli jets used another asset: freedom of action in Jordanian and Iraqi airspace. Most certainly, both states were forced to accept the overflight of Israeli fighter jets due to US intervention.

          Less known is the fact that there was information about an Israeli F-35 being hit by the Syrian air defense in 2017. These were based on two elements: on that day, the Syrians launched missiles at a formation of Israeli fighter jets, and during that same period, an F-35 aircraft was damaged following a bird strike, according to official reports. Moreover, this type of incident is not entirely uncommon in aviation. The information regarding the Syrian air defense's success against the F-35 was denied[54].

         


[1] Encyclopedia Britannica, section History, Israel’s Disengagement from Gaza in 2005 page, accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.britannica.com/event/Israels-disengagement-from-Gaza?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[2] “Gaza Timeline: From Israel's 2004 Withdrawal to Hamas' Attack on October 7, 2023”, Israel Fact Check, accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.israelfactcheck.com/gaza-timeline-from-israel-s-2004-withdrawal-to-hamas-attack-on-october-7-2023?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[3] Ofer Shelah, Carmit Valensi, The Campaign between Wars at a Crossroads CBW, 2013-2023: What Lies Ahead?, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), accessed May 1, 2026, https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Memo_227_ShelahValensi_ENG.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[4] “Why Has the Syrian War Lasted 12 years?”, BBC, accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35806229.

[5] “Israel Targeted Iran-backed Groups in Syria With Over 43 airstrikes in 2024”, Anadolu Ajansi, accessed April 27, 2026, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-targeted-iran-backed-groups-in-syria-with-over-43-airstrikes-in-2024/3327765?utm_source=chatgpt.com; “Timeline: Israeli attacks on Syrian targets”, Al Jazeera, accessed April 27, 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/5/5/timeline-israeli-attacks-on-syrian-targets.

[6] “Timeline: Israeli attacks on Syrian targets”, Al Jazeera.

[7] “Air strikes on Syrian regime: Israel raids inside Syria since 2013”, The Straits Times, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/air-strikes-on-syrian-regime-israel-raids-inside-syria-since-2013?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[8] Ofer Shelah, Carmit Valensi.

[9] “Air strikes on Syrian regime: Israel raids inside Syria since 2013”, The Straits Times.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) official website, “Ending the War in Syria: An Israeli Perspective”, accessed April 28, 2026, https://www.cfr.org/councilofcouncils/global-memo/ending-the-war-in-syria-an-israeli-perspective/.

[15] Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) official website, “Ending the War in Syria: An Israeli Perspective”.

[16] Defense One, section The D Brief, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2016/09/the-d-brief-september-13-2016/131478/.

[17] “Russian IL-20 Aircraft Shot Down by Syrian S-200 Missile”, Defense World, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.defenseworld.net/2018/09/18/russian-il-20-aircraft-shot-down-by-syrian-s-200-missile.html.

[18]Air strikes on Syrian regime: Israel raids inside Syria since 2013”, The Straits Times.

[19] Ibid.

[20] “Tension Rises Between Israel and Iran After Syria Clash”, The Wall Street Journal, accessed May 1, 2026, https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-vows-more-aggression-to-stop-iranian-military-expansion-in-syria-1518358488.

[21] Ofer Shelah, Carmit Valensi.

[22] “Russia Completes Delivery of S-300 System to Syria”, The Moscow Times, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/10/03/russia-completes-delivery-of-s-300-system-to-syria-a63062/pdf.

[23] The report “Syria: 10 Years On”, ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data), accessed April 30, 2026, https://acleddata.com/report/syria-10-years?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[24] “Did Israel’s Air Force Use Stealthy F-35 Fighters for Strikes on Damascus?”, Military Watch, accessed May 5, 2026, https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/did-israel-s-air-force-use-stealthy-f-35-fighters-for-strikes-on-damascus.

[25] “Ukrainian EW Radar Helped Israel Destroy Iranian Pantsir Air Defence in Syria”, Defense World, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.defenseworld.net/2019/02/15/ukrainian-ew-radar-helped-israel-destroy-iranian-pantsir-air-defence-in-syria.html.

[26] “Alleged Israeli Strikes Bring US to Crossroads in Iraq”, Defense One, accessed May 1, 2026, https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/08/alleged-israeli-strikes-bring-us-crossroads-iraq/159541/.

[27] “Russian S-300s, S-400s Fail to Detect Israeli F-35s Flying Over Syria: Reports”, Defense World, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.defenseworld.net/2019/09/19/russian-s-300s-s-400s-fail-to-detect-israeli-f-35s-flying-over-syria-reports.html.

[28] “Israeli F-35I Jets Strikes “Large Convoy” in Syria”, Defense World, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.defenseworld.net/2020/02/20/israeli-f-35i-jets-strikes-large-convoy-in-syria.html.

[29] “Syria accuses Israel of attack; IDF confirms Israeli air defenses triggered”, Ynet Global, accessed May 1, 2026, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5433497,00.html.

[30] The report “Syria: 10 Years On”, ACLED.

[31] “Israeli F-35I Jets Strikes “Large Convoy” in Syria”, Defense World.

[32] “Israel Needs Help Rebuilding Its Munitions Stockpile”, Defense One, accessed May 1, 2026, https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2020/08/israel-needs-help-rebuilding-its-munitions-stockpile/167497/.

[33] The report “Syria: 10 Years On”, ACLED.

[34] Ofer Shelah, Carmit Valensi.

[35] Ibid.

[36] “Israel strikes several sites in Syria, wounding a soldier, Syrian military says”, Associated Press (AP), accessed April 28, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/syria-israel-hezbollah-strikes-89750162f563f2242ce56d236c6ddf05.

[37] “Israeli airstrike in Syria kills more than 40 people, says war monitor”, The Guardian, accessed April 28, 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/29/syria-israel-airstrike-soldiers-killed-aleppo?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[38] “Israeli airstrikes near Syria’s Aleppo kill several, including an Iranian adviser, reports say”, Associated Press (AP), accessed April 23, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/syria-israel-aleppo-strike-4bb542ab0a1f1764b8d5d1bac478ce49.

[39] Ibid.

[40] “Israel targeted Iran-backed groups in Syria with over 43 airstrikes in 2024”, Anadolu Ajansi.

[41] Defense One, section The D Brief, accessed May1, 2026, https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/09/the-d-brief-september-13-2024/399516/.

[42] “Israel strikes three anti-aircraft radar stations in southern Syria, sources say”, Reuters, accessed April 28, 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-three-anti-aircraft-radar-stations-southern-syria-sources-say-2024-10-01/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[43] “Why is Israel Escalating its Strikes Against Syria?”, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/why-israel-escalating-its-strikes-against-syria?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[44] “Israeli airstrikes in Syria 'most violent' since 2012, monitor says”, Euro News, accessed April 28, 2026, https://www.euronews.com/2024/12/16/israeli-airstrikes-in-syria-most-violent-since-2012-monitor-says?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[45] “Why is Israel Escalating its Strikes Against Syria?”, RUSI; “Mapping Israel’s expanding air attacks across Syria”, Al Jazeera, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/4/mapping-israels-expanding-air-attacks-across-syria?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[46] “Why is Israel Escalating its Strikes Against Syria?”, RUSI.

[47] “Mapping Israel’s expanding air attacks across Syria”, Al Jazeera.

[48] “Israel launches new airstrikes from Lebanese airspace to attack Syria”, The Cradle, accessed May 3, 2026, https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-launches-new-airstrikes-from-lebanese-airspace-to-attack-syria; “Syria blames Israel for rare air strike on main port of Latakia”, BBC, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59561148; Defense One, section The D Brief, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2017/09/the-d-brief-september-08-2017/140841/; “Lebanon: Israel using our airspace to launch strikes on Syria”, Israel National News, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/358229?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[49] “Syrian Air Defense Missiles: Everything you need to know”, Middle East Forum, accessed May 5, 2026, https://www.meforum.org/syrian-air-defense-missiles-everything-you-need.

[50] “Everything We Know (and don’t Know) About Israel Launching World’s First Air Strikes Using the F-35 Stealth Aircraft”, The Aviationist, accessed May 5, 2026, https://theaviationist.com/2018/05/22/everything-we-know-and-dont-know-about-israel-launching-worlds-first-air-strikes-using-the-f-35-stealth-aircraft/#allow.

[51] “Syria shoots down 'hostile' drones near Damascus”, Press TV, accessed May 5, 2026, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/09/719771/Syria-shoots-down-drones-Damascus?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[52] “The Israeli Air Force Has Just Released a Video of a Pantsir-S1 Air Defense System Being Struck in Last Night’s Attack in Syria”, The Aviationist, accessed May 6, 2026, https://theaviationist.com/2018/05/10/the-israeli-air-force-has-just-released-a-video-of-a-pantsir-s1-air-defense-system-being-struck-in-last-night-attack-in-syria/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#allow; “The long arm of the Israeli Air Force”, KEY.AERO, accessed May 6, 2026, https://www.key.aero/article/israeli-air-force-spice-munitions-airforces-magazine.

[53] “Did Israel’s Air Force Use Stealthy F-35 Fighters for Strikes on Damascus?”, Military Watch.

[54] “Did a Russian-Made Missile ‘Hit’ F-35 Fighter Back in 2017?”, 1945, accessed May 6, 2026, https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/05/was-an-israeli-f-35-hit-by-a-russian-made-missile-in-syria-back-in-2017/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.


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