Posted on 09/11/2007 7:18:21 PM PDT by blam
US confirms Israeli air strike on Syria
By Tim Butcher in Tel Aviv
Last Updated: 2:26am BST 12/09/2007
A US official has confirmed that Israeli warplanes carried out an air strike "deep inside" Syria, escalating tensions between the two countries.
The target of the strike last Thursday remained unclear but Israeli media reported that a shipment of Iranian arms crossing Syria for use by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon was attacked.
Israeli army Merkeva tanks on the Golan Heights
Syria first reported the incident on the day, saying its air defences had engaged five Israeli planes, but did not say what their target was. Israel remained uncharacteristically silent, pointedly refusing to deny that its warplanes were involved in an operation. The closest it came to acknowledging the affair happened was when it made an undertaking to Turkey to investigate how an Israeli long-range fuel tank was dropped on Turkish territory near the Syrian border.
Another theory gaining ground yesterday was that Israel was deliberately attacking the Russian-made Pantsyr air defence system recently bought by Damascus. The sale includes provision for the Pantsyr system to be shipped on to Iran and it is possible the Israeli attack was co-ordinated with America to probe the effectiveness of the system. It is believed that Iran would use the Pantsyr system to defend its nuclear facilities.
Syria has sought to keep the incident in the public arena, saying yesterday that it had complained formally to the United Nations, accusing Israel of unjustified aggression.
Syria and Israel have fought major wars on three occasions, in 1948, 1967 and 1973, as well as numerous other skirmishes. The two nations remain formally at war although an uneasy calm has largely held for the past three decades. Meanwhile, Israel was contemplating a retaliatory strike on Gaza last night after a Palestinian qassam rocket injured 69 of its soldiers, five seriously, at the Zikim army base. Many of the Israelis were hit by shrapnel as they slept under canvas.
While the rocket was fired by members of the Islamic Jihad party, Israel said it would hold Hamas accountable because the group is the main authority in the Gaza strip since it drove out its Fatah rivals in June.
The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, convened an emergency meeting yesterday with military and security commanders to discuss a response to the attack.
Ping.
Get some popcorn started — let the games begin.
Your pants, sir.
Hmm, they seem to be a tad soiled. Lets find you some new ones.
I suppose the UN finds this to be a boring non-issue? And I suppose the UN will condemn the Israelis for doing what needed to be done?
One comment I do agree with Ron Paul is “Israel can take care of itself”. Go get the Israel!
Feints for an attack on Iran?
Good for Israel. About damned time...
Was ElMorte on vacation er somethin?
Get Some!
So some tauting of Syria seems in order. Then the rats’ nest really can be clearned out. Bush should comment that Syria apparently has a big hole in their county (courtesy of Israel) and is incapable of responding.
Assad would love that!
Bombs over Assaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
Bombs over Assaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
remember: in every war syria has participated in against israel, they have been defeated.
I don’t think syria is dumb enough to make it 0 in 4.
I was thinking Lantos...
Bad little Israel...
Bad Bad Bad (Hit em again)
W
exactly.
when you have some time, it is better to warm up a little before you do any heavy lifting.
I dont think Mr. Paulestinan means "Israel is capable of defending itself without any assistance." I think he means "Israel can go to hell because I'm a spineless moron."
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