Tag Archive for Syria Unrest

Satellite images of alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria show heavily damaged facility

The Israeli company ImagesSat International, released pictures of the Syrian military facility before and after it sustained heavy damage in an airstrike last week, that has been attributed to Israel’s Air Force.

By Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Satellite images taken this weekend and published on Sunday have exposed the damage caused by an airstrike, attributed to Israel, on a military facility in northwest Syria.

A statement from the Syrian army said that Thursday’s strike took place near the town of Masyaf, about 25 miles north of the Lebanon border, and warned against the “dangerous repercussions of this aggressive action to the security and stability of the region.” Continue Reading »

After attack on chemical weapons cache, Syria threatens Israel with ‘dangerous consequences’

Following mysterious air-strike on chemical weapons storage center inside a regime military site in western Syria, local and Lebanese news sites reported an air strike on a Syrian “scientific studies and research center.”

By Tal Polon

 

The Syrian army responded this morning in an official statement to the air strike last night on a Syrian military site near the city of Masyaf in the Hamat district in western Syria.

Earlier, Syrian and Lebanese news sites reported an air strike on a Syrian “scientific studies and research center.” The center has been associated with the Syrian regime’s production of chemical weapons. Continue Reading »

Who bombed ISIS killing 12, Israel & Jordan or Int’l Coalition Forces?

 

If international coalition forces were behind this attack that killed 12 and injured scores, it’ll be unprecedented, since as far as it’s publicly known, those who’ve attacked ISIS units in the Golan so far, were from Israel or Jordan.

By Roi Kais

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Tuesday, “unidentified” aircrafts attacked ISIS forces at the Syrian-Jordanian-Israeli border.

According to the report, it is not clear whether these planes belong to the international coalition against ISIS.

The attacks were directed against the ISIS branch in the Golan, the Khalid ibn al-Walid Army, and at least 12 members of the organization were killed and many were injured.
Continue Reading »

Dozens of Hezbollah killed/injured by Syrian forces over military strategy

 

Syrian media reports of heavy fighting early Thursday morning involving Hezbollah fighters against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces in two villages of Aleppo’s southern suburbs.

By MAAYAN GROISMAN

 

The first signs of a rift between Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, which have been cooperating over the past five years in the Syrian civil war, reportedly began emerging amid heavy fighting against rebel factions in Aleppo.

Lebanese Hezbollah supporters march during a religious procession in Nabatieh. – Photo: REUTERS

According to the Syrian news site, Syrian Mirror, heavy clashes broke out between the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah fighters early Thursday morning in two villages in Aleppo’s southern suburbs. Continue Reading »

IDF preparing for Iran-backed terrorism attack on Syrian border

 

The Assad regime with its proxies have become more assertive and has retaken several posts on the Syrian Golan since the beginning of Russia’s air involvement.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

IDF units on Mount Hermon, which borders Syria, are preparing to encounter Iranian-backed terror attacks, a senior military source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

An IDF soldier looks out from a position on Mt. Hermon. – Photo: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT

According to the source, units operating under the command of the Mount Hermon territorial Brigade have been training to respond to a “combined terror attack” that could involve border bombs, rockets, an attempted kidnapping of soldiers, and possible anti-tank missile fire. Continue Reading »

German Chancellor Merkel: “Not acceptable how Iran continues to talk about Israel”

 

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel says that she welcomes Iran’s participation in the fight against ISIS in Syria, but Iran must change its attitude and slander towards Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin on Monday that she would welcome Iran’s participation in the ongoing fight against ISIS in Syria, however Iran’s attitude and slander towards Israel must change.

“I think Iran has a lot of influence over what happens in Syria. And everyone is welcome to participate constructively in the negotiations,” she said.

"Death to Israel" - Iranian president at anti-Israel march.

“Death to Israel” – Iranian president at anti-Israel march.

Continue Reading »

IDF Chief Promises to Protect Syria’s Druze from ‘Massacre’

Responding to Israeli Druze anxieties, Lt. Gen. Eizenkot vows to prevent harm to Druze community on Syria’s side of the Golan Heights.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Israel pledged Tuesday to protect any refugees who fled towards the Jewish state after a rebel offensive in Syria and Islamist violence there raised fears about the Druze minority’s safety.

A significant number of Druze live in Israel, and leading members of the community have called on the government to help their brethren in Syria following the recent violence.

Without mentioning the Druze, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said the authorities were preparing for a possible influx of Syrian refugees and would prevent a potential massacre at the border. Continue Reading »

Facebook closes ISIS page used to sell plundered ancient artifacts

Facebook removes Islamic State pages featuring artifacts plundered from Syrian archaeological sites, including scrolls written in Hebrew & Aramaic, and clay tablets.

By Eli Leon & news agencies

 

Facebook has taken down pages that may have been selling archaeological finds looted by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Ancient Hebrew manuscript that Islamic State terrorists tried to sell on Facebook. – Photo: From Facebook

The militant group has reportedly been using the social media network to sell off the invaluable artifacts believed to have been plundered by Islamic State militants from Syrian archaeological sites.

After receiving reports about the illegal sales efforts, Facebook removed the pages featuring the stolen items, which included scrolls written in both Hebrew and Aramaic, clay tablets, and ancient coins and golden statues. Continue Reading »

Syria’s Ancient City of Palmyra Still Remains Intact

Jewish presence at Palmyra is exhibited by the opening verses of the Shema carved into a stone doorway, to-date, the longest carved Hebrew inscription found from antiquity.

By REUTERS

 

BEIRUT – The Syrian government’s antiquities chief said on Tuesday the historical city of Palmyra had been unharmed since the Islamic State group seized it from state control last week.

The Shema inscription found in a doorway in Palmyra, photogrphed in 1884 . – S. Landauer

Maamoun Abdulkarim said was still afraid the jihadist group would blow up ancient ruins at Palmyra including tombs and the Temple of Bel, which would be viewed as idolatrous in its puritanical vision of Islam. Continue Reading »

Released for Publication: Shin Bet Arrest Israeli Arab After Seeking Martyrdom in Syria

Israeli Arab who illegally entered Syria, seeking to fight and die a Shaheed, was ‘captured and tortured by Assad security forces’ to gain intel on Israel, before returning home in a poor state of health from his ‘interrogations’.

Security forces arrest resident of Kalansuwa, 20, upon his return to Israel.
Islamist fighters

A man holds up a knife as he celebrates the conquest of a town in Syria by Islamist fighters. – Photo: REUTERS

Security forces arrested an Israeli Arab in December who had returned to the country after attempting to join a jihadist group in Syria, but instead was captured by Assad regime security forces and tortured, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said on Monday. Continue Reading »

Israel Downs UAV Near Syria Border

 

IDF spokesman says drone downed with Patriot missile by the IAF, appeared to have belonged to Syria’s military & had flown inadvertently into Israeli airspace.

By Ahiya Raved, Roi Kais, Itay Blumental

 

The IAF fired a  Sunday afternoon, shooting down an unmanned aerial vehicle that strayed into Israeli airspace from neighboring Syria, the IDF said.

Patriot missile battery. (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

Patriot missile battery. – Photo: Avihu Shapira

The IDF said the incident occurred near Quneitra in the Syrian Golan Heights, the scene of heavy fighting between Syrian government troops and rebels.

Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the IDF, said the drone appeared to have belonged to the Syrian military and had flown accidentally into Israeli airspace. Continue Reading »

UN demands end to Syrian military action in Golan border region with Israel

 

U.N. Security Council unanimously adopts resolution, “that there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of separation, including military operations by the Syrian Arab Armed Forces.”

By The Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

 

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday strongly condemned the recent intense fighting between Syrian government and opposition fighters in the Golan Heights and demanded an end to all military activity in the area that has separated Syrian and Israeli forces since 1974.

Wounded Israelis are transported from Golan Heights to Rambam hospital in Haifa on Sunday – Photo: Michel Dot Com

A resolution unanimously adopted by the council echoed U.N.

Continue Reading »

Assad forces destroy Syria’s oldest Synagogue

The more than 400 yr-old Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue was hit by a mortar shell in 2013. After Israel was established, the building was used as a school for Palestinian refugees.

By

 

A historic synagogue on the outskirts of Damascus was destroyed amid fighting in Syria’s civil war over the weekend.

Damascus synagogue destroyed

A sign at the entrance of the Damascus synagogue, taken from a Youtube video.

Opposition leaders said Syrian army forces flattened the more than 400-year-old Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue in an attack — part of a months-long bombardment of the suburb of Jobar — and also may have destroyed thousands of Jewish artifacts, The Daily Beast reported. Continue Reading »

IDF closes Golan border crossing after armed conflict on Syrian side

Since Islamic Rebel forces in Syria have managed in the past to take over the Quneitra crossing, Israel closes the area.

By and Reuters

 

 

The Israel Defense Forces declared the area around the Golan Heights’ Quneitra crossing a closed military zone, in the wake of fighting in Syria.

Quneitra

Smoke billowing from an explosion during clashes between rebels and Syrian pro-government forces in the Syrian town of al-Kahtaniyya, May 11, 2014. – Photo: AFP

IDF officials expressed concern that the fighting could spill over into Israel. The rebels in Syria have managed to take over the crossing for several hours in past.

Continue Reading »

Assad regime blames Israel & US for continued Syrian stalemate

2nd round of peace talks in Geneva reach impasse, accusing Israel of undermining

 the negotiations

. Syria’s envoy to the UN says the U.S. helps rebels ‘escalate militarily.’

By AFP

 

Syria’s regime on Saturday accused Israel and the United States for undermining UN-brokered peace talks and blamed the opposition’s refusal to settle the issue of “terrorism” for the deadlock.

Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari – Photo: PressTV

“Everybody is trying his best to undermine the whole process, either Israel or unfortunately the Americans, or even the sponsors of the so-called coalition and the opposition,” Syria’s top negotiator Bashar Jaafari told reporters after a second round of talks wrapped up fruitlessly. Continue Reading »