Posted on 07/13/2013 11:41:30 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter
US officials have confirmed that Israel recently carried out a strike against Yakhont missiles near Latakia, Syria on July 5. Threat Matrix had previously reported on the incident on July 9.
CNN reports:There is strong reason to believe that the Yakhont missiles targeted by Israel were those described by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in mid-May. The Journal even noted that Israel would possibly look to target the shipment "in the near future." The day before both reports, the Times quoted an Israeli official as saying that Israel was prepared to carry out additional strikes in Syria if necessary.A series of explosions on July 5 at a critical Syrian port was the result of airstrikes by Israeli warplanes, according to multiple U.S. officials. Regional media widely reported the predawn explosions at Latakia, but no one had officially claimed responsibility.
Three U.S. officials told CNN the target of the airstrikes were Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles that Israel believes posed a threat to its naval forces. The officials declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the information.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on July 9 denied that Israel was responsible for the incident in Latakia, according to Ynet News. "We haven't intervened in the Syrian bloodshed in a long time .... We've drawn our red lines and we keep to them," he said.
Since the start of the uprising against Bashar al Assad in Syria, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has carried out at least three other strikes in Syria.
In late January, the IAF reportedly struck targets near the Scientific Studies and Research Center (Centre D'Etudes et de Recherches Scientifiques) in Jamraya. According to reports, the IAF targeted a weapons convoy, which included Russian-made SA-17 antiaircraft missiles, near the facility.
While some reports of the January strike suggested that the SSRC facility itself was targeted and "flattened," satellite imagery revealed that the facility, known for its ties to Syria's chemical weapons program, was relatively unscathed. The images did show a burnt road near the facility, possibly indicating the location of the Syrian weapons convoy when it was hit, however.
In early May, the IAF carried out two separate strikes in Syria. The first strike on May 3 reportedly targeted Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missiles from Iran, which were located at Damascus International Airport. The second strike on May 5 reportedly retargeted the SSRC facility that was struck in January.
In at least two of the three attacks prior to the most recent alleged strike, Israeli aircraft never actually entered Syrian air space, according to press reports.
Although Israeli officials have not taken official responsibility for any of the alleged strikes, they have repeatedly warned that they are prepared to act in Syria to prevent Hezbollah and other terror groups from obtaining advanced weaponry.
In the coming days and weeks it will be interesting to watch whether American officials issue an apology to their Israeli counterparts for confirming last Friday's strike, as occurred after the May strikes. In addition, it will be interesting to see if satellite images or on-the-ground video or photos emerge, as was the case with all of the previous strikes.
Bashir, repeat after me:
“If I transfer missiles to Hizb’allah, Israel will kick my *ss.”
There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?
Under the First Undocumented Moslem,
America protects Morsi (murderer of Amb.Stevens)
and al Qaeda (murderers of thousands in 911),
and now has as virtual enemies England and Israel.
And Congress? Whoring, drunk, and cashing their payoffs.
Is the older fellow in the position between 09:00 and 10:00 who’s not applauding Noam Chomsky?
Well, if you don’t want your missiles blown up, don’t put them where the Israelis are dropping bombs.
That bears repeating :
“If I transfer missiles to Hizb’allah, Israel will kick my *ss.”
“If I transfer missiles to Hizb’allah, Israel will kick my *ss.”
This seems to have been missed in the Euro and Mideast news—————I’m guessing CNN made it up. After all, the Israeli who should know denied it?
Has it occurred to the Obama administration that Israel may be the only country left in the world where John Kerry can still go and pretend to do diplomacy?
Bibi Netanyahu never makes John Kerry wait three hours to meet with him, as does Vladimir Putin, and he’s always been willing to keep up the charade that the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks are not completely dead.
And for all that, what does Israel get in exchange but having the U.S. publicly disclose its national security secrets — the same thing Edward Snowden did to the Obama administration, which made Obama and the Democrats so angry they still can hardly contain themselves.
What can I say - once a teacher, always a teacher.
Yeah Isreal, we’ve got your six!
You deny your involvement on July 9, and the US cowardly “unknown sources” will blow your cover on the 13th.
(Bert Bacharach/Whitney Houston) That’s what friends are for!
Meanwhile, Muslims in the far north have other problems. As usual, the orthodox Saudis have the stupidest solution, while the Egyptians are more rational.
“Swedish Muslims north of the Arctic circle have long waited for and feared this summer. When the sun never sets, they have pondered how to observe Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast from sun up to sun down for a month.”
http://www.thelocal.se/49004/20130711/
imho, will have to take a wait and see.
moslems and rational ... have to question that one.
Same sentence ... I'll wait and see.
Jury is still out on that bit of history soon to be imho.
Thanks Straight Vermonter.
I was only referring to the relative rationality of the 24 hour daylight problem proposed by imams in the two countries as described in the link.
I know ... was just having some fun with you. I guess my humor wasn’t humor. You have my apology. I enjoyed your humor.
Unlike our spineless leader who doesn’t keep his threats, when Netanyahu says he won’t let advanced weapons into Syria, you can bet he means it.
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