Israel hits Syria convoy near Lebanon

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

ISRAELI have forces carried out an air strike on a weapons convoy from Syria near the Lebanese border, security sources have told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The attack came after Israel expressed concerns that Damascus's stockpile of chemical weapons could fall into the hands of Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah group, an ally of the Syrian regime, or other militant groups.

Israeli officials have said such a transfer would be a declaration of war and likely spark an Israeli attack.

Sources differed on whether the strike took place on Syrian or Lebanese territory.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/israel-hits-syria-convoy-near-lebanon/story-e6frfkui-1226565529373

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BREAKING: Regional security officials say Israel conducted airstrike inside Syria overnight. -MM

https://twitter.com/AP/status/296647160928296962

Israel conducts airstrike on Syria

BEIRUT (AP) — Regional security officials say Israel conducted an airstrike inside Syria overnight near the border with Lebanon.

The two officials did not say what the target was. But they said Wednesday that Israel had been making plans in the days leading up to the airstrike to hit a shipment of weapons bound for the anti-Israel militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

They said the shipment included sophisticated, Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, which would be strategically "game-changing" in the hands of Hezbollah.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/regional-security-officials-say-israel-conducted-airstrike-inside-syria-overnight

[TwilightGardener]

1. Um...this seems like a worrisome development.

[Cynicus Emeritus]

2. And when Syria strikes back

because they are a sovereign nation, and they were attacked on their territory, does that mean the USA is on the hook to defend the aggressor? I certainly hope not. I'd like to see us pull out of the ME entirely. The ultimate goal of this unrest is to suck the USA into another proxy war. What group stirred up this situation in Syria? It needs to be investigated.

[nick of time]

3. Syria isn't going to hit back.

They've got their hands full with the civil war going on.

[hack89]

5. They are not that stupid. nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

4. "Israeli officials have said such a transfer would be a declaration of war"

Perhaps I am not up on modern warfare, but isn't attacking Syrian military convoys within Syria an act of war?

Note: I do not like or support Syria in any way, but if Israel is looking for a provocation for hostilities then it has given Syria exactly that: an excuse to use force to repel force.

Unless Israel is prepared to go to war I would expect it to not stir the pot.

[Mosby]

16. failed states don't get to play the sovereignty card.

Edit - syria and israel are still at war.

38 years now.

Surprised you don't know that.

[The Stranger]

19. Not that I really care, but I find it odious to

. . . always haul out the "syria and israel are still at war" when it suits them, then (ironically) support Syria's resident dictator, who happens to be in charge of the country they are supposedly at war with.

[Mosby]

20. israel has never supported assad

The israelis have tried to work a deal with them to officially end the war but the two sides are far apart, mainly because the syrians refuse to compromise.

Maybe your thinking of mubarak in egypt, the israelis were trying to support his regime because they knew what would happen.

[The Stranger]

21. Israel is supporting Assad. Make no mistake about it.

Israel would much, much rather have Assad than the alternative.

Look beyond the obvious.

[David__77]

28. I agr ee, to an extent.

Certainly more sober analysts supporting Israel's security SHOULD support Assad. The Sunni supremacists are filled with hatred for Alawites and Jews both. Assad's own grandfather was just fine with Zionism. Syrian Baathism is only nominally opposed to it, and the Alawite are in a strategically precarious position that is not dissimilar from European Jewry in an earlier period.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

22. "syria and israel are still at war."

Thanks. I had forgotten that.

So if/when Syria were to respond due to Israeli belligerence then what? Syria is in a civil war, and when a you corner a wild animal don't expect it to lick your hand. It will strike.

So hopefully nothing comes of it, but if Syria felt that it no longer had anything to lose it might try to settle this claim or aggression. Sauce for the goose, and nobody wins one for the team. I just hope that Syria doesn't strike back ans Israel keeps it in their pants until the civil war calms down and ends.

[iandhr]

6. I guessed the Hezbollah thing changed things in their minds.

Israel stayed out of it until now

[zellie]

7. That's a shame.

I guess SA-17 missiles aren't to useful right now.

[geek tragedy]

8. Not a big fan of Israel's, but in that neck of the woods this isn't outrageous.

It's understood that if you're trafficking arms to people who are going to use them against Israel, you invite an Israeli attack.

When you're like Syria's present regime and present no meaningful military threat to Israel, you practically guarantee it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

23. But Syria does have chemical weapons, and nobody wants them to loose it and lob a few at Israel.

Iron Dome may work wonders, but I wouldn't want to take the chance and let one missile get through.

[geek tragedy]

26. Certainly not. Who knows exactly what was in that convoy though. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. These were defensive missiles headed for Hezbollah?

I wonder if they might use some of their offensive missiles now.

[hack89]

17. Without Syria to back them up

they wouldn't risk it. Israel is itching to severely hurt Hezbollah.

[another_liberal]

10. Leaving aside . . .

Leaving aside for a moment the pesky fact that it is illegal under the UN charter and various international treaties for Israel to attack foreign territory and foreign nationals like this, one wonders what, exactly, they plan to gain? Can't Hezbollah get antiaircraft weapons from other sources? Isn't this a dangerous escalation of an already highly violent situation?

A few more raids like this one and the Israeli leaders may succeed in uniting Syria's many factions (as well as some in Lebanon) against their own country!

[zellie]

11. Oh yes

And it was so wrong when Israel leveled that Syrian nuclear site that was under construction.

We certainly don't want to upset the dreaded "Arab street". Israel really needs to fear them and let them get those missiles .

[another_liberal]

15. What about if . . .?

What about if someone who felt threatened by Israel's massive and secret nuclear bomb fabricating site were to level it? There are a few nations, at least, who could plausibly do just that, if they felt threatened enough. Would that action also be justified? Or is that kind of gross violation of international law (without repercussions) reserved for our closest allies alone?

[Bosonic]

12. Syria confirms Israeli jets bombed military site

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian state TV has confirmed that Israeli warplanes bombed a military research center northwest of the capital, Damascus.

U.S. and regional security officials reported the strike Wednesday but did not say where it took place.

State TV says the strike targeted a military research center in the area of Jermana.

It says the strike caused material damage and the center was used to advance Syrian military capabilities.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/regional-security-officials-say-israel-conducted-airstrike-inside-syria-overnight

Not sure, as of yet, if this is a new event, or just a different spin on the convoy attack...

[bunnies]

13. Looks like they just picked a war with Iran.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014381736

[TwilightGardener]

14. That's what I was thinking of, too.

Hopefully not.

[Dont call me Shirley]

18. They are just aching to fulfill their armegeddon fantasy.

[Ellipsis]

25. Serious hardware

[leveymg]

27. If you look at the map, it appears that the Israelis attacked an antiaircraft unit along with a

military installation in Zabadani, which is about 30 kms NW of Damascus about mid-way to Beirut.

The story about Syria handing Hezbollah missiles looks like a cover story for what was actually a military attack on a defensive anti-aircraft unit. The SA-17 is pretty much useless without the long-range radar and command vehicles, and if the IAF attacked a "convoy" near the border with Lebanon, that should tell you that this is was what actually happened:

It looks like like one of Syria's mobile air defense units was in the area, which is their right, perhaps in anticipation of an Israel air strike. It appears they may have been onto something, there.

It isn't at all obvious on its face that this was necessarily going to be a gift to Lebanese Hezbollah.

[dipsydoodle]

29. Russia concern at Israeli 'air strike' on Syria

Russia has expressed concern at an alleged Israeli attack on Syria, saying such a strike would be an unacceptable violation of the UN Charter.

Syria's army said Israeli jets had targeted a military research centre north-west of Damascus on Wednesday.

It denied reports that lorries carrying weapons bound for Lebanon were hit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21272171