Israel strikes Syria to keep ‘game-changing weaponry’ from reaching Hezbollah
By Nancy Cooper
“We can not comment on these reports, but what we can say is that Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, specifically to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” an Israeli spokesman in Washington said, according to Andrea Mitchell.
The Israeli government has been clear that for them, the “red line” would be the transfer of weapons to Lebanon. SCUD missiles in Lebanon could reach not just Israel but also NATO forces in the region.
The target of a strike would probably not be chemical weapons depots: that could cause deadly contamination. The more likely target would be weapon delivery systems or launch systems.
The Israelis had conducted a similar strike in January, when Israelis struck a weapons shipment of some kind that Israelis believed was headed for Hezbollah. In that instance, Israeli fighter jets attacked a convoy of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles believed on their way to Hezbollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon publicly acknowledged the January airstrike inside Syria in a joint press conference with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Tel Aviv on April 22. Ya’alon said any Syrian delivery of sophisticated weapons to rogue elements like Hezbollah would be a “red line” for Israel and
“when they crossed this red line, we operated. We acted.”
After the January strike, there was no regional expansion of the Syrian conflict. Andrea Mitchell said Friday that that was likely to be the case again, and that Friday’s strike was unlikely to unleash a wider conflict.
The Obama administration has moved very cautiously on Syria, waiting to verify the origins of a possible use of chemical weapons. Obama officials are conscious of mistakes the George W. Bush regime made in acting on unverified intelligence.
Earlier today, before the Israeli strike became public, President Obama had said he did “not foresee a situation” which would put American boots on the ground in Syria.
It was not clear whether the Israelis had asked for or received tacit approval from the U.S. before launching the Friday strike.
White House officials referred all questions to Israel, who reiterated that they will take action to prevent weapons going to Hezbollah.
Israel calls up thousands of reserve soldiers in massive drill:
The United States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, CNN reported on Friday, citing two unnamed U.S. officials.
CNN quoted the officials as saying Israel most likely conducted the strike "in the Thursday-Friday time frame" and that Israel's warplanes did not enter Syrian air space.
It said the officials did not believe Israel had targeted a chemical weapons facility.
According to NBC News, which said it has confirmed the report with its own sources, it is believed the primary target was a shipment of weapons headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon. A senior U.S. official told NBC the airstrike was believed to be related to delivery systems for chemical weapons.
A White House spokeswoman referred questions on the reports to the Israeli government.
The Israel Defense Forces had no comment on the officials' remarks, but a source in the Israeli defense establishment told CNN: "We will do whatever is necessary to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorist organizations. We have done it in the past and we will do it if necessary the future."
The CNN report said that during the time frame of the attack, the United States had collected information showing Israel Air Force planes overflying Lebanon.
Earlier Friday, sources in Lebanon reported that IAF jets conducted several sorties into Lebanese air space. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called on the United Nations and the international community to press Israel to stop breaching Lebanon's sovereignty, saying that such flyovers are a " continuation of Israel's policy of aggression."
Israel has made clear in the past that it might intervene to prevent Syrian advanced weapons falling into the hands of militant groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, which fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
In January this year, Israel reportedly bombed a convoy in Syria, apparently hitting weapons destined for Hezbollah, according to diplomats, Syrian rebels and security sources in the region.
The target of a strike would probably not be chemical weapons depots: that could cause deadly contamination. The more likely target would be weapon delivery systems or launch systems.
The Israelis had conducted a similar strike in January, when Israelis struck a weapons shipment of some kind that Israelis believed was headed for Hezbollah. In that instance, Israeli fighter jets attacked a convoy of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles believed on their way to Hezbollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon publicly acknowledged the January airstrike inside Syria in a joint press conference with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Tel Aviv on April 22. Ya’alon said any Syrian delivery of sophisticated weapons to rogue elements like Hezbollah would be a “red line” for Israel and
“when they crossed this red line, we operated. We acted.”
After the January strike, there was no regional expansion of the Syrian conflict. Andrea Mitchell said Friday that that was likely to be the case again, and that Friday’s strike was unlikely to unleash a wider conflict.
The Obama administration has moved very cautiously on Syria, waiting to verify the origins of a possible use of chemical weapons. Obama officials are conscious of mistakes the George W. Bush regime made in acting on unverified intelligence.
Earlier today, before the Israeli strike became public, President Obama had said he did “not foresee a situation” which would put American boots on the ground in Syria.
It was not clear whether the Israelis had asked for or received tacit approval from the U.S. before launching the Friday strike.
White House officials referred all questions to Israel, who reiterated that they will take action to prevent weapons going to Hezbollah.
Lebanon's president condemns reported Israel Air Force flyovers, urges world to intervene
Michel Suleiman brands alleged Israeli sorties into Lebanon's air space as a continuation of Israel's 'policies of aggression.'
By Jack Khoury
"Haaretz" - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has condemned a series of sorties by Israel Air Force jets, which, according to reports in Lebanon, violated the country's air space on Friday morning.
Suleiman has called on the United Nations and the international community to press Israel to stop breaching Lebanon's sovereignty, saying that such flyovers are a blatant violation of UN Resolution 1701. He further branded them as "a continuation of Israel's policy of aggression" as he urged world powers to intervene on his country's behalf.
The remarks, released in a statement on Friday, followed reports of IAF planes coasting over the southern Lebanese sector of Marjayoun and Al Khayyam up to the Beqaa valley in the east. According to these reports, some of the planes simulated low altitude attacks, as part of activity which started on Thursday.
UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon reported that two brigades conducted exercises in the area, including searches for unexploded bombs and weapons.
Israeli sorties over Lebanon have been reported for several months now. These reports have appeared on Lebanese websites ever since reports surfaced regarding an Israeli attack in Syria which targeted chemical weapons stockpiles, as well as following two recent incidents involving unmanned drones which originated in Lebanon.
See alsoMichel Suleiman brands alleged Israeli sorties into Lebanon's air space as a continuation of Israel's 'policies of aggression.'
By Jack Khoury
"Haaretz" - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has condemned a series of sorties by Israel Air Force jets, which, according to reports in Lebanon, violated the country's air space on Friday morning.
Suleiman has called on the United Nations and the international community to press Israel to stop breaching Lebanon's sovereignty, saying that such flyovers are a blatant violation of UN Resolution 1701. He further branded them as "a continuation of Israel's policy of aggression" as he urged world powers to intervene on his country's behalf.
The remarks, released in a statement on Friday, followed reports of IAF planes coasting over the southern Lebanese sector of Marjayoun and Al Khayyam up to the Beqaa valley in the east. According to these reports, some of the planes simulated low altitude attacks, as part of activity which started on Thursday.
UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon reported that two brigades conducted exercises in the area, including searches for unexploded bombs and weapons.
Israeli sorties over Lebanon have been reported for several months now. These reports have appeared on Lebanese websites ever since reports surfaced regarding an Israeli attack in Syria which targeted chemical weapons stockpiles, as well as following two recent incidents involving unmanned drones which originated in Lebanon.
Israel calls up thousands of reserve soldiers in massive drill:
The IDF has launched a surprise call-up of an entire division of 2,000 reserve soldiers for a week-long exercise in the north in the first such maneuver in many years as instability grows on the entire northern border, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Golan Heights.
Iran considers any attack against Syria an attack on itself, an advisor to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader was quoted as saying Saturday, the strongest warning to date by a top Iranian official that Tehran will use any available means to keep the regime of President Bashar Assad in power.
United States believes Israel conducted airstrike in Syria, CNN reports
Israel Air Force jets targeted a shipment of weapons headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to reports.
By Reuters and Haaretz
Israel Air Force jets targeted a shipment of weapons headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to reports.
By Reuters and Haaretz
The United States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, CNN reported on Friday, citing two unnamed U.S. officials.
CNN quoted the officials as saying Israel most likely conducted the strike "in the Thursday-Friday time frame" and that Israel's warplanes did not enter Syrian air space.
It said the officials did not believe Israel had targeted a chemical weapons facility.
According to NBC News, which said it has confirmed the report with its own sources, it is believed the primary target was a shipment of weapons headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon. A senior U.S. official told NBC the airstrike was believed to be related to delivery systems for chemical weapons.
A White House spokeswoman referred questions on the reports to the Israeli government.
The Israel Defense Forces had no comment on the officials' remarks, but a source in the Israeli defense establishment told CNN: "We will do whatever is necessary to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorist organizations. We have done it in the past and we will do it if necessary the future."
The CNN report said that during the time frame of the attack, the United States had collected information showing Israel Air Force planes overflying Lebanon.
Earlier Friday, sources in Lebanon reported that IAF jets conducted several sorties into Lebanese air space. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called on the United Nations and the international community to press Israel to stop breaching Lebanon's sovereignty, saying that such flyovers are a " continuation of Israel's policy of aggression."
Israel has made clear in the past that it might intervene to prevent Syrian advanced weapons falling into the hands of militant groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, which fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
In January this year, Israel reportedly bombed a convoy in Syria, apparently hitting weapons destined for Hezbollah, according to diplomats, Syrian rebels and security sources in the region.
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