Tag Archive for Syria

| August 28, 2013
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LIVE TIMELINE: US readies strike on Syria as GB drafting UNSC resolution

 

Video: UN inspectors arrive outside Damascus at site of chemical attack.

Israeli cabinet convenes to discuss probable U.S.- U.K. attack.

By

 

Momentum appeared to build Wednesday for Western military action against Syria, with the U.S. and France saying they are in position for a strike, while the government in Damascus vowed to use all possible measures to repel it.

USS Nimitz.

A U.S. Navy F/A 18 Hornet fighter jet lands on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. – Photo: Reuters

 

The prospect of a dramatic U.S.-led intervention into Syria’s civil war stemmed from the West’s assertion – still not endorsed by UN inspectors – that President Bashar Assad‘s government was responsible for an alleged chemical attack on civilians outside Damascus on August 21 that the group Doctors Without Borders says killed 355 people. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| August 27, 2013
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How the West will strike Syria

 

British Daily Mail reports how US & British top brass prepare for possible attack in Syria, pointing out targets, including Assad’s air force & key regime facilities.

By Ynet

The British Daily Mail newspaper revealed on Monday the American-British target list in Syria and the forces likely to participate in a military operation – be it a short or a long one – in the torn Arab country.

Photo: MCT

 

The favored option among top brass is for limited Western action using ‘stand-off’ weapons from long distance to disrupt Assad’s ability to carry out chemical attacks and damage his military machine, the Daily Mail said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| August 27, 2013
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BREAKING NEWS: British Warplanes in Cyprus – Ready to Strike Syria

Guardian Reports: British warplanes and military transporters have begun arriving at an airbase on Cyprus.

By Elad Benari

 

In what might indicate that the British army is preparing for an attack on Syria, the Guardian reported on Monday that warplanes and military transporters have begun arriving at Britain’s Akrotiri airbase on Cyprus, less than 100 miles from the Syrian coast.

Two commercial pilots who regularly fly from Larnaca told the Guardian that they had seen C-130 transport planes from their cockpit windows as well as small formations of fighter jets on their radar screens, which they believe had flown from Europe. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| August 17, 2013
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Nasrallah: I’m Prepared to Go to Syria & Fight Myself

Hezbollah leader reported that Thursday’s car bombing in Beirut will not prevent fighters from his Shiite organization from fighting in Syria.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

A day after a car bomb blast in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut killed at least 20 people, the terrorist group’s leader said he was willing to go fight in Syria himself.

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah delivering a speech from his underground bunker – Photo: AFP

Hezbollah terrorists have been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s troops against rebels.

“I will go myself to Syria if it is so necessary in the battle against the takfiris (radical Sunni Muslims), Hezbollah and I will go to Syria” to fight rebels trying to oust the Damascus regime, Hassan Nasrallah declared in a speech broadcast on television in Lebanon. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| August 2, 2013
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Analysis: White House Unlikely to Sanction Further Israeli Airstrike on Syrian Missiles

 

 

The NYT reports that a July 5 attack on Yakhont missiles cache wasn’t 100% successful & that possible future strikes by Israel can be expected, but the U.S. will no longer sanction them.

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Israeli defense sources have declined to comment on The New York Times’ report on an alleged Israeli strike in Latakia, Syria; Israel didn’t comment either when the explosions took place on July 5. After three earlier air strikes attributed to Israel – one in January and two in the beginning of May – Israeli officials dropped hints but refused to admit that Israel was responsible. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| August 2, 2013
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Syrian Gunfire Hits Close to IDF Soldiers

An IDF patrol in the northern Golan Heights was almost hit by gunfire originating in Syria. No injuries reported.

By Elad Benari

 

Gunfire from the Syrian side of the border hit close to an IDF patrol in the northern Golan Heights on Thursday night. There were no injuries or damages.

The IDF believes that the fire was not directed at the Israeli soldiers and was part of the ongoing fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Al-Assad.

Two weeks ago, fire was opened at an IDF patrol near Tel Fares in the southern Golan Heights, after the troops identified two Syrians who entered an abandoned military outpost located east of the border fence. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| July 24, 2013
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Pentagon Reports: U.S. military actions in Syria could run $1b a month

NYT Reports: General Dempsey in a letter to Congress warns that the decision to use force in military options against Assad, ‘is no less than an act of war’.

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The Pentagon has provided Congress with the first list of detailed options for military intervention in Syria, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

U.S. Navy photo shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis

This photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. – Photo: AP

The scenarios were presented in a letter by chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, and enumerate that strikes on Syrian military targets will costs billions of dollars. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 15, 2013
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Syrian Imam: Everything’s All the Jews’ Fault

Broadcasted on Syrian TV, a Syrian preacher recently accused the world’s Jews of being responsible for the troubles & ongoing civil strife in Syria and throughout the Middle East.

By Elad Benari

 

A Syrian preacher recently accused Jews of being responsible for all the Muslims’ woes, including the ongoing civil strife throughout the Middle East.

Imam at Umayyad Mosque in Damascus - MEMRI screenshot

Imam at Umayyad Mosque in Damascus – MEMRI screenshot

The remarks were made in a sermon at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, which aired on Syrian TV on June 28.

They were translated and posted by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

“Let us take a look at the history of mankind, which has recorded the true nature of the Jews, the slayers of prophets and violators of agreements. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , , ,
| July 8, 2013
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Israel sentences Arab-Israeli to jail for joining Syrian rebels

Massarwa acknowledges to illegally traveling to hostile state and meeting with what prosecutors described as a “foreign agent”.

By REUTERS

 

 

 

JERUSALEM – Israel sentenced an Arab citizen to 30 months’ imprisonment on Monday for endangering national security by briefly joining Syrian rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Free Syrian Army members, Aleppo, July 4, 2013.

Free Syrian Army members, Aleppo, July 4, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

Massarwa was arrested on March 19 upon returning via Turkey from Syria, where he had spent a week at a rebel base. Israeli prosecutors accused him of undergoing small-arms training by radical Islamists there who asked him to carry out a suicide attack in Israel – although, by all accounts, he declined.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 5, 2013
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6 Gulf States Targeting Hezbollah with Sanctions

Senior Gulf Cooperation Council officials met in the Saudi capital to coordinate sanctions against Hizbullah because of the Shiite terrorist organization’s support for the Syrian regime.

By Elad Benari

 

Senior Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials met in Riyadh on Thursday to coordinate sanctions in the six member states against Lebanon’s Shiite Hizbullah terror group over its support for the Syrian regime, AFP reported.

Hizbullah flag – AFP photo

The meeting was “to develop mechanisms to monitor movements, financial transactions and business operations of Hizbullah,” said Bahraini deputy interior minister Khaled al-Absi, according to the news agency.

The GCC monarchies decided on June 10 to impose sanctions on Hizbullah, targeting residency permits and its financial and business activities in reprisal for the group’s armed intervention in Syria. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 1, 2013
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John McCain: U.S. must aid Syrian rebels to keep Iran from nuclear weapons

U.S.Republican senator, in Israel, agrees with P.M.Netanyahu: Negotiations with Palestinians must be without preconditions.

By and Reuters

U.S. Senator John McCain said in an interview published Monday that arming Syrian rebels is an important step in deterring Iran from its nuclear ambitions.

Senator John McCain, left, speaks during a press conference with Senator Lindsey Graham

Senator John McCain, left, speaks during a press conference as Senator Lindsey Graham, right, listens on, Jerusalem, June 30 2013. – Photo: AFP

Speaking to Army Radio on a visit to Israel, the Republican senator deflected concerns that weapons provided to rebels could fall into the hands of terrorists, who might use them against the United States and Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 27, 2013
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UN demands Assad & Rebels halt all military activity in Golan Heights

UN Security Council extends mandate of UNDOF deployed on Syrian-Israeli border.

By Reuters and

 

 

The UN Security Council has demanded a halt to all military activity by the Syrian government and opposition fighters on the Golan Heights and called for stepped up measures to protect peacekeepers who have been caught in crossfire.

UN peacekeeping soldiers from Austria near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, June 2013. - Photo by Reuters

UN peacekeeping soldiers from Austria near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, June 2013. – Photo by Reuters

A resolution adopted unanimously by the council on Thursday extended the mandate of the UN force monitoring the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights until December 31. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| June 26, 2013
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2 wounded Syrian kids treated in Israeli hospital – 2nd time this week

IDF medics transferred the 2 civilian casualties, a child & a teenager into Israel late Tuesday night for treatment in Safed’s Rivka Sieff Medical Center.

30 Syrian civilians have been hospitalized there since start of civil war.

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Israel Defense Forces medical teams transferred two wounded Syrian children into Israel late Tuesday night for treatment in Safed’s Rivka Sieff Medical Center.

IDF troops on Israel-Syria border

IDF troops on Israel-Syria border, June 25, 2013. – Photo: Ap

 

One of the wounded, a 15-year-old, is in serious condition after suffering multiple internal wounds and having already undergone surgery in Syria. The other, 9-years-old, is in moderate condition after suffering shrapnel wounds all over his body and losing his right eye. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 25, 2013
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White House trying to ‘rein in’ Kerry over pledges to allies & rivals alike

America’s top diplomat, US Sec. of St. John Kerry has issued several as yet undelivered & perhaps undeliverable foreign policy promises, including a historic breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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In four months as secretary of state, John Kerry has certainly promised great things. Now he has to deliver.

In the Middle East, he has raised hopes his solo diplomatic effort can produce a historic breakthrough ending six decades of Arab-Israeli conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on visit to New Delhi, India.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on visit to New Delhi, India. – Photo: Reuters

 

He has pledged to bring Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government to heel and to work with Russia to end Syria’s civil war. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| June 16, 2013
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Iran proposes front against Israel & sending 4000 troops to Syria for Assad

 

Report comes a just day after Egyptian president Morsi calls for Hezbollah to leave Syria immediately, & 2 days after UN Human Rights Council condemns all use of foreign fighters in Syrian civil war.

By

 

Iran has reportedly decided to send 4,000 troops from its Revolutionary Guard to Syria to aid President Bashar Assad’s forces, The Independent reported on Sunday.

IDF Golan Heights tanks

IDF tanks amassing on the Golan Heights amid heightened tensions with Syria. – Photo: Gil Cohen–Magen

 

The Independent added that Islamic Republic had even proposed opening a “Syrian” front against Israel in the Golan Heights in order to ensure Assad’s reign continues. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
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