Haaretz
Israeli jets attacked several targets in Syria Tuesday night in addition to the Scientific Studies and Research Center in Jamarya, outside Damascus, Time Magazine reported Friday.
In the hours and days after the airstrike allegedly carried out by the Israel Air Force, conflicting reports surfaced regarding the nature of the strike. Syria accused Israel of attacking a research center in Jamarya, but denied that an attack on a convoy transporting SA-17 surface-to-air missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon had taken place as was previously reported.
“At least one to two additional targets were hit the same night,” a Western intelligence official indicated to Time, adding that Israel received a “green light” from the United States to carry out further attacks in the future.
According to the report in Time, among the buildings destroyed in the attack on the Jamarya research center were “warehouses stocked with equipment necessary for the deployment of chemical and biological weapons.”
The U.S. was “poised to carry out similar airstrikes around Aleppo if rebels threaten to take sites associated with weapons of mass destruction in that region,” an American intelligence official told Time.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed “grave concern” on Thursday over reports that Israeli jets bombed a convoy near the Lebanese border, apparently hitting weapons destined for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
#1 by annebeck58 on February 2, 2013 - 5:47 pm
I was wondering if they’d hit more than one target.
And, if it’s true that Obama and Co gave approval to this or these strikes; is anyone surprised?
#2 by Leo on February 2, 2013 - 7:15 pm
IF ? This report is true there will be some kind of retaliatory strike from either Syria or Iran . Count on it .
#3 by Leo on February 2, 2013 - 9:28 pm
The Russian Government is informing their people here in the U S to leave the U S. due to a imminent terrorist attack .
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1651.htm
#4 by annebeck58 on February 2, 2013 - 9:38 pm
If- is correct term, Leo.
One thing we know is this: US News LIES.
So, either they are lying to stir things up, and the White-house did not give approval.
Or, the White-house DID give approval, which is not surprising, at all.
I don’t know that Iran or anyone will retalliate. If anyone does, though, I think it should be Hezbollah. They’re probably the most well-equipped (well-armed) to do so. I mean, I think we all know that Iran does not have nukes (unless Russia has helped them out in this), but IZ does. Hezbollah probably has anti-rocket arms of their own, without those that were blown up by IZ in Syria.
So, who knows? Are they just trying to push Iran into war? Probably so; either way, I’d say so.
#5 by Dante Ardenz on February 2, 2013 - 11:00 pm
Well the more things change the more they stay the same.According to the Jew bought GOP Neoconservatives,Obama is hard on the beloved Jewish state-NOT SO !Bought he is less rabid,just fervent.But with Jews one can never just oppose,or even hate.One must despise the enemy.
#6 by John John on February 3, 2013 - 1:08 am
Why can’t one ot hese countries down an Israeli plane??? They fly over Lebon at will. Syria is suppose to have Russian SAM missiles, why don’t they use them? If you ask me I think the Russian missiles are a bunch of shit! They are worthless. Thats probley why they didnt’t sell them to Iran.If they could down one Israeli jet the Israelis might think twice.about attacking!.
#7 by Bob on February 3, 2013 - 1:44 am
I don’t think the Syrians are going to be foolish enough to fall into the trap of direct retaliation. I suspect that you will see some kind of covert operation of some type targeting Israeli officials/interests.
There is a better response, but it requires Russian participation….The Russians could begin providing direct military aid to the Lebanese Army in the form of advanced anti-aircraft systems along with the technicians to operate them, perhaps even going so far as to establish a Russian military base in Lebanon. Such actions would be real “game changers” and impose a serious price upon the Israelis for their recent attack on Syria as well as their ongoing daily violations of Lebanese air space.
Imagine a regiment of S-400′s operating in the area between Beirut and the Litani River with authorization to target any aircraft violating Lebanese air space. The Israelis would no longer have free access to Lebanese air space. This would amount to a defacto Russian guaranty of Lebanese sovereignty and would for the first time in 40 years place real constraints upon Israeli actions in Lebanon.
This scenario may not be as farfetched as it might seem. The Russians are now heavily invested in maintaining their interests in Syria. They have undertaken their largest naval deployment since the collapse of the old USSR in support of those interests. With Assad’s forces seemingly having survived the most critical point in the struggle with the mercenary army they are fighting, there is a very serious prospect of direct Western intervention unless the Russians can find a way to deter it. Expanding the Russian sphere into Lebanon would place a serious obstacle in the face of any direct foreign intervention. The Russians would be essentially be placing a “trip wire” in Lebanon which would put the West on notice that the line has been drawn and any direct intervention in Syria means war with Russia.
It is a far more palatable option than placing Russian troops in Syria where they would almost certainly be drawn into combat, and might be viewed by the Sunni majority there as taking sides in what they may see as an internal matter. Russian anti-aircraft defenses would be seen by most Lebanese as an answer to long standing prayers for relief from the constant threat of Israeli air attacks. The 2006 war is almost certainly still in the minds of most Lebanese. I’m not talking about a massive deployment of Russian troops, but the establishment of a military base (similar to the Russian presence at Tartus in Syria) and military to military ties to the Lebanese Army which would include the deployment of advanced anti-aircraft systems with Russian technicians to provide the technical knowhow while the Lebanese are trained up to an acceptable standard.
If the Russians are serious about defending their interests in Syria, what I am suggesting would be an effective counter blow to Western attempts to destabilized Syria…which to date has imposed no real penalty on the West. It would seem important for the Russians to show the West that these actions will have a cost attached to them; else there is nothing to deter them from simply continuing to knock over one nation after another right up to the Russian frontiers.
One thing seems certain, that Putin is determined to draw the line at Syria. Perhaps he has a better plan. I certainly hope so.
Bob
#8 by Darwin26 on February 3, 2013 - 2:43 am
What if they don’t retaliate ??? the video from the other article on this says Iran has ‘ways’ of dealing with Israhell that don’t incl a military attack…well i’d like to see it what ever it is ~ Do not Let Israhell get away with this
#9 by Leo on February 3, 2013 - 4:39 pm
There have been all types of covert operations in Syria by the U S Federal Government . The U S backed rebels have caused massive amounts of mayhem in Syria yet Assad still remains that is all that matters . this premature outcome would have been different provided the Russian federation had not inserted itself into this international crisis . (But how much is enough before the Big Guns Go At It) ? meaning Russia and U S. military start exchanging punches ! Syria and Israel are but only small players in a larger conflict . anyone that has any intelligence savy fully realizes that the U S in part in endeavoring to overthrow these regimes in a concerted effort to encircle Russia, as the Russian Federation is what the U S Government is really after but first the U S has to take out the leaders of countries around the Russian federation boarders and set up U S puppet regimes to do its biding this is also being prepared in Eastern Europe with the U S NATO missile shield that the Russian Federation is countering with their own missile shield . It is high time the world wake up and realized what the U S government is really up too . overthrowing the Russian Government .
#10 by Ingrid B on February 4, 2013 - 3:33 am
@Bob, good scenario, but, there is one “fly in the ointment”, march 14th, in other words, those in Lebanon who have actively been supporting the opposition in Syria, and who want Assad gone..
#11 by Bob on February 4, 2013 - 6:30 pm
Ingrid, it is true that many Sunnis in Lebanon want Assad gone, but the Shiites and the Chrisitans do not. You also have to wonder whether even the Sunnis in Lebanon would be more interested in being protected from IDF air strikes than they are about Assad’s future in Syria.
I’m not Lebanese and I’m not on the ground there, but I know that if I were Lebanese, I would eagerly accept such a Russian presence if it meant an end to the constant threat from IDF aircraft flying overhead. When the Israelis decided to devastate all of Lebanon in 2006 one result was to burn into people’s minds the Israeli threat. It is not hypothetical, its reality was proven by thousands of bombed out buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure. None of that destruction had any tactical military value and was clearly done as punitive actions.