Syria Fires at Israeli Aircraft

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[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Looks like it is just breaking

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Should be interesting

[FreedomPoster]

The Israelis broke the sound barrier and "dropped ammunition" over deserted areas of northern Syria overnight, the spokesman was quoted by the official Syrian Arab News Agency.

Flares & chaff?

[PGalt]

BUMP!

[hlmencken3]

oh please

the ap quoting arab sources?

don’t get too excited just yet

[paulcissa]

A probe & diversion? Strategic two-fer?

[cardinal4]

Flares & chaff?

More than likely if they had been illuminated by targeting radar on the ground. But hey, why let facts get in the way of a provacation?

[edcoil]

Russia’s been doing the same thing over Northern Europe.

Last night they flew eight bombers over.

Witht he Iraq war winding down, everyone wants attention.

[Reaganesque]

...deserted areas of northern Syria...

Well, it's deserted now...

[muawiyah]

More than likely this was to get the Turks in Northern Iraq to "light up" their air defense systems.

The IDF will have to get by them before they can take out the Iranian nuclear weapons program.

[jhpigott]

16:12 IDF says it will not comment on reported incident in Syria (Reuters)

interesting response - i guess they are not outright denying the incident

[cardinal4]

The Israelis enjoy a cordial relationship with Turkey, I thought. Plus, why fly North to turn east, when they can just vary their ‘81 profile? Just fly due east over Jordan and continue over Iraq? Im sure our radars their will be “down for maintenence” at the time, as long as Israel keeps us in the loop. Hell, they could even tank the strike over Iraq. The tactical AND strategic benefits to us if Israel were to do it would be great..

[jdm]

IDF 'looking into' report of Israeli aircraft crossing into Syrian airspace

Commenting on Thursday's Syrian Arab News Agency report regarding an Israeli aircraft breaching Syrian airspace, the IDF said that it has "no information supporting the claim that an Israeli aircraft was fired upon."

Military sources told Ynet that the IDF is looking into the report. (Hanan Greenberg)

[maquiladora]

"Local residents said they heard the sound of five planes or more above Tal al-Abiad area on Syria's border with Turkey, around 160 km (100 miles) north of the Syrian city of Rakka."

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0620459420070906?src=090607_0913_DOUBLEFEATURE_thompsons_in&pageNumber=2

[Thermalseeker]

Im sure our radars their will be “down for maintenence” at the time, as long as Israel keeps us in the loop.

Actually, I would expect for us to provide AWACS and tanker/refueling support if they ask.....then again, the thought of an American F-22 or F-18 putting a smart bomb up Stinky's butt as payback for 1979 makes me smile......

[Fitzcarraldo]

Syria says Israeli jets bomb territory

[Sax]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901650.html - not a heck of a lot more here.

[cardinal4]

Actually, providing that type of support would be a bad idea. Better to let the Israelis use their own tankers and support, while we provide a safe lane for entry and egress. That way we can say with a straight face we never saw a thing. Diplomatically it would the best way to go. Until of course an embedded Clintonista leaks our safe passage lane to the press..

[maquiladora]

It’s possible these were US aircraft and not Israeli.

[maquiladora]

The most interesting thing about this is where it happening, in the extreme north of Syria, nowhere near the Israeli border or any potential flashpoints.

It's possible they were conducting an exercise in Turkish airspace and perhap went over the border into Syrian airspace.

[George W. Bush]

The appropriate Israeli response is thermonuclear.

[jdm]

Interesting.

[maquiladora]

16:48 Syria Minister: Syrian leadership seriously mulling response to incident. (Haaretz)

[Fitzcarraldo]

DEBKAfile Reports: Alert declared in Israeli Air and Air Defense Forces after Syria claimed Israeli jets penetrated its air space September 6, 2007, 4:54 PM (GMT+02:00) Leaves have also been canceled at IDF bases.

[jhpigott]

“16:48 Syria Minister: Syrian leadership seriously mulling response to incident. (Haaretz)”

potential “oh crap” moment

[maquiladora]

17:11 Jerusalem: Signs that operational error sparked incident in Syrian airspace (Ch. 10)

Looks like Israel is going to say that the jets accidently fly into Syrian airspace. Since this was so close to the Turish border and the IDF trains in Turkish airspace, thats seems the likely explanation.

[saganite]

Might have to re establish our Iceland outpost. I worked up there for 2 years chasing bears.

[saganite]

Are the Israeli pilots AR qualified? I’m assuming they are since they’ve got just about every capability out there but just don’t remember seeing anything about a tanker fleet in their Air Force.

[Doofer]

Better to let the Israelis use their own tankers...

The Israelis don't have a long range in air refueling capacity.

[colonialhk]

Radar test on the new AA stuff Aimanubag bought them.

[jhpigott]

if “Jerusalem” is saying this, its probably coming from the PMs office and given Olmert’s track record he is probably scrambling to do all he can to defuse this

notice the IDF (hence Barak) have said “shove it” we don’t respond to this stuff

[RightWhale]

Israel and Turkey have military alliance.

[jhpigott]

hearing on another website that the oil market is responding to the incident

oil up $1.77/barrel

[RightWhale]

Israel has been conducting training flights of sufficient length to go the long way around Saudi.

[maquiladora]

The Israelis don't have a long range in air refueling capacity.

IISS claims that the IAF has a total of 5 Re'em" ("Antelope") tankers (4 KC-707, 1 KC-135). - http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/707.htm

[Califreak]

Quick Nancy! Hop on a plane & chat up these folks!

[cardinal4]

The Israelis don't have a long range in air refueling capacity.

They must, they tanked the Osirak mission over Saudi, or maybe it was Iraq, I dont remember..

[maquiladora]

Iran offers to aid Syria following tensions with Israel

Iran's ambassador to Damascus, Mu , assured security officials in Syria that Teheran would be ready to offer Damascus any assistance it may need, Iranian media reported on Thursday afternoon following a resurgence of tensions between Israel and Syria.

Syria claims that IDF aircraft entered Syrian airspace overnight. (Dudi Cohen)

Published: 09.06.07, 17:30 / Israel News

[maquiladora]

Debka is having a field day with this (as you’d expect).... : “Alert declared in Israeli Air and Air Defense Forces”

[RightWhale]

Oil has been responding for several days. Might be something else going on.

[SmithL]

Another Syrian official said: "They dropped bombs on an empty area while our air defenses were firing heavily at them."

There may be a subtle message there.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Surely looks to me that China, Russia, Syria are getting ready for war.

[edcoil]

but against who, those three are on the same side.

[ExSoldier]

Little bit late. The great Syrian/Israeli War of '07 was supposed to start a month ago. Supposedly Syrian tanks and troops have been "massing" along the border for months and conducting extensive battle preparations to face ...well...I was about to say...face certain defeat at the hands of the battle savvy Israelis. But given the limp noodle of the Olmert Government, I'd have to back off that assertion. Israeli invincibility is certainly in question after the debacle of Lebanon. Still, I have no doubt that if the Israeli war machine is really loosed, they can handle any of their Arab opponents. One at a time or Banana style -- that's in a bunch and yellow.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

against us of course! They are banking on their friends the Clintons getting into power again. They know, therefore, there will be NO opposition to them from the USA should the Traitors get back into the White House. They know that there will be a green light to their worst designs on the world.

Makes me sick to my stomach to think about us pitted against the superpowers China and Russia AND the middle east enemies.

With traitors running our military...

[maquiladora]

Reuters is saying that the Israeli government has imposed a news blackout on the issue & the White House also declined comment.

[McGruff]

Reuters is saying that the Israeli government has imposed a news blackout on the issue & the White House also declined comment.

My first instinct was to see what DEBKA had to say.

[Delmarksman]

“Surely looks to me that China, Russia, Syria are getting ready for war.”

Agreed, but would add...
And Iran.

[jhpigott]

wonder why they would do that?

If they wanted this thing to go away you would think transparency would be the best route

[maquiladora]

Usually a news blackout on an issue like this indicates that the investigation is still ongoing, or the situation is at a sensitive level. Or both.

[mojito]

From JPOST:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1188392553869&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Looks like a probe of Syria’s new Russian-purchased air defense and long-range missile system. Also looks like the Israeli’s could have blown it to hell, if they’d wanted to. The Syrians were caught napping (again).