BACK OFF!
Posted on 10/25/2006 10:19:04 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Two Israeli warplanes and a German navy vessel have clashed off the Lebanese coast, the Defense Ministry in Berlin said on Wednesday without giving further details.
Germany daily Der Tagesspiegel earlier on Wednesday quoted a junior German defense minister as telling a parliamentary committee that two Israeli F-16 fighters flew low over the German ship and fired two shots.
The jets also released infra-red countermeasures to ward off any rocket attack, the paper quoted him as saying.
The minister did not say when the incident happened or what had caused it, the paper said.
"I can confirm that there was an incident," a ministry spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday. An investigation was underway and he therefore was unable to provide further information, he added.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was checking the report.
Germany assumed command of a United Nations naval force off the coast of Lebanon 10 days ago and has sent a force of eight ships and 1,000 service personnel to join the international peace operation in the region.
The naval force is charged with preventing weapons smuggling and helping maintain a ceasefire between Israel and radical Lebanese-based Islamic group Hezbollah.
Interesting. Thanks. Wonder what that was about?
USS Liberty Ping.
My guess is the German ship lit them up.
I think the Germans would be ill-advised to give the Israelis any excuse of any kind.
um, perhaps it was night time and this was some "analog IFF?"
Germany and France need to realize that the Israeli's will kick their ass if they lock on to Israeli fighters with Anti-aircraft radar. We have Israels back and they are a nuclear power. Choose wisely EU,democracy or muslim terrorist.
BACK OFF!
You mean the Germans locked their targeting radar on the IDF fighters?
I'm wondering what they mean by the claim of "two shots"being fired. Were they missiles or what? I didn't think F16s were fitted with guns.
Yes, that is my guess. The shots, if there were any, would have been warning shots (otherwise they would have HIT the Germans).
Maybe they can share their radio frequencies so this doesn't happen again.
and yes F-16s have guns.
the title is misleading based upon the story. it sounds like the IAF planes buzzed the ship to take a closer look and to let them know that radar locking an ALLY isnt cool. Germany and Israel have good relations.
F-16's have a gun. Warning shots are fired with it.It has a 20 mm vulcan cannon
I guess six million wasn't enough for the Germans.
They owe Israel big time - they should play nice.
Looks like the Huns are back to finish the job they started over 60 years ago.
Simply freshman antics.
This is just the Germans protecting their Hezbollah brothers.
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