The Syrian announcement of an Israeli air strike on a military site near Damascus Wednesday, Jan. 30, drew strong condemnation from Moscow the next day: “Such action if confirmed would amount to unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country,” said the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry Thursday. “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violate the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it.”
Israel has made no comment on the Damascus statement which described in detail an Israeli air strike against a “military research institute” near the capital. Witnesses say it was a plant for manufacturing “unconventional weapons.” The facility was destroyed and two staff members killed.
Lebanese sources later reported a Russian Mig-31 fighter had crossed over Sinai Wednesday in the direction of Israel. It veered west over the Mediterranean after encountering an Israeli warning not to intrude into its air space and continued flying over Lebanon.
DEBKAfile’s military sources say that the only external military force in the eastern Mediterranean region is a fleet of 18 Russian warships, which includes landing-craft – among the largest in the Russian Navy – with 2,000 marines aboard.
According to various Middle East sources, the Syrian report of an Israeli air strike has touched off high military alerts across the region. Syria has put its Golan forces on the Israel border on combat readiness and the Lebanese and Jordanian armies are on alert. So too are the Russian fleet opposite Syria and the Lebanese army.
Our military sources report that Turkish units on the Syrian border are on high preparedness although Ankara played down the reports of the Israeli air strike in Syria, uncomfortable over the fact that the Israeli Air Force was the first external power to intervene directly in the Syrian conflict.
So too are the US air force units stationed at the Turkish Incerlik air base, the US special forces deployed at the Jordanian Mafraq air facility and the American, German and Dutch Patriot missile interceptors deployed in Turkey opposite Syria. Israel has been on high alert since last week.
The prevailing estimate in military and intelligence circles in Washington and NATO capitals is that the Israeli air attack on the Syrian military site near Damascus was but the opening shot for the coming round of military blows they expect to be exchanged in the near future between Israel, Syria and Hizballah, with Iran possibly waiting in the wings for a chance to pitch in.
Is there some reason I am no longer recieving E-mail notifications of other comments on the posts. I miss them!!!!!!!!!
@ Max:
Lately I have been agreeing with you so often, we are almost allies,
@ Laura:
There are no allies. Only interests.
@ Eric R.:
You are still pushing the fallacy that Russia is an ally of Israel?
So not only does Russia condemn Israel for defending itself from a possible chemical or biological attack, it directly threatens Israel militarily. These are things to think about for those here on Israpundit who have been advocating an Israeli alliance with Russia. Russia is still very much an enemy of Israel, notwithstanding its willingness to do some business deals with Israel.
And there you have it.
According to Russia ” no matter the motives to justify it.” hence, Israel must do nothing to defend itself.
NormanF Said:
Actually the events across the mid east are predictable and many have predicted it. a grand deal for the removal of sectarian dictators in egypt, libya, tunisia,now syria. All of the scenarios involve the utilization of the sunni qatar/saudi backed Salafi,Qaeda mercenary militias and Sunni govts of Turkey and Egypt. It has resulted in the increase in power to the MB/Islamists. US, UN and Nato are backing, and benefiting from the Saudi/qatari use of the militias while appearing to back democratic forces only. who the US cannot publicly back is controlled by Saud under the table, nothing new here. The payment for this backing remains to be fully seen but I expect continued support in return for cooperation in energy,etc. and for a change in iran. a sign of this deal is the outcome of the recent gaza deal and the qatar investment in gaza with israels blessing. Jordan, being a monarchy and becoming part of the GCC axis will get the support of the MB in exchange for reform. Money and increase in power to the MB. deals to be made but the “street” will still be fighting Israel. Hezbullah will be weakened, Hamas is already making deals. with Qatar investment and offshore gas development hamas will be able to deliver increased economy and have less need to play the israel card in order to consolidate its control. we may even see the next president of the PA as meshaal after accepting the 2 states, in the works now, and hamas taking over there. Russia, an energy seller, is noisy but China, a big energy consumer, is quiet.
Max Said:
Everyone will mind because the fallout from chemical or nuclear materials destruction is very destructive itself.
The fun thing is Neither Russia nor Assad could stop it and the funner thing is Israel can and probably will do it again.
It’s the perfect time to surgically take out all WMD in Syria. The FSA don’t mind, we don’t mind – only the dead regime men walking mind.
Like American Institute said: Russia will back Syria to the last regime corpse even though they know all is lost.
And IDF moved patriot batteries to Haifa – routine move – NOT!
Hezbollah is weaker without Syria – they were also moving their conventional weapons out so they know Assad will soon be meeting the great boot-stomper in the sky.
Hezbollah protests the Israeli airstrike – they should also protest getting wiped out, It’s the perfect time coming soon to obliterate them – in the last two weeks as Assad falls – hit Hezbollah hard while the world is in confusion – never mind the collateral dead babies – make a it a fait accompli before Obama can pick up the phone. Finally get it done, Why wait for spring, do it now.
Last nation standing gets to write the history books.
Putin is Putin. He says this publicly, but privately, I think he knows Syria is lost and his “outrage” will not go beyond words. At this point, Israel can do more to advance Russian power than can Syria, especially since he believes he can exploit the growing Israel-USA rift. That is what matters to him.
NormanF Said:
Not saying you are wrong but that’s what they say every year here.
Its even less than that… the Russians know the Assad regime is circling the drain and whatever regime replaces it in Damascus will be strongly anti-Russian and so they’re keeping all their options open.
The truth is Israel’s Arab enemies have never been more divided and weaker. For Hezbollah, this single fact of life inhibits it from taking on Israel.
Iran while pursuing its nuclear weapons project, is facing economic collapse.
In a word, the Middle East is being reshaped before our very eyes by forces no one can predict or even control. 2013 is shaping up to possibly be the most momentous year of the 21st Century.