Tag Archive for Syrian unrest

| December 23, 2012
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Israeli Defense Expert: Syria’s Chemical Weapons Are Secure

Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal is secure for now, says an Israel defense official, Amos Gilad.

At some point, the various splinter groups may begin to also fight each other. But for now, they are still united against a common enemy: Assad.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

According to Defense Ministry military expert Amos Gilad, for the moment, there appears to be a balance of power between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces.

בסיס נשק כימי בספירה. קרבות ניטשו סביב המקום

Syrian Chemical weapon base

It is that delicate balance that is keeping the chemical weapons in check, Gilad told listeners in an interview broadcast Sunday morning on IDF Army Radio.  Continue Reading »

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| December 21, 2012
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Report: Hezbollah Weapons Depot that Blew-up, Held Missiles Capable of Delivering Chemical Warheads

There’s a significant risk of proliferation to other groups, such as Hezbollah, which could pose a global terrorist threat

 

Two days after a mysterious explosion at a Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon, the Kuwaiti website Al Jarida is reporting that Israel bombed the site because Syria had transferred missiles there that were capable of being equipped with chemical warheads. The missiles had been moved into Lebanon from Syria in the last several months and were being held inside warehouses owned by farmers in the area.

A soldier wearing protective gear.

The report also claimed that Hezbollah has many additional warehouses across Lebanon that are used for the same purpose. Continue Reading »

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| December 20, 2012
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Syrian defector reports: Assad’s regime transferred WMDs to Lebanon

Syrian defector says forces moved 100 kilos of lethal sarin gas from secret base in the direction of Lebanon

Yitzhak Benhorin

 

Syrian war escalates: According to Syrian sources, President Bashar Assad’s regime has developed special vehicles for moving and mixing chemical weapons, the Washington Post reported.

בסיס נשק כימי בספירה. קרבות ניטשו סביב המקום

Chemical weapon Syrian base

Post commentator, David Ignatius spoke to a Syrian source who received information from a Syrian defector who worked inside a chemical weapons network.

The source was speaking with Ignatius from his hiding place in an Arab country outside Syria, with the “hope of encouraging greater American involvement with the opposition.” Continue Reading »

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| December 20, 2012
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Palestinian refugees flood into Lebanon from Syria

Control of the Yarmouk refugee camp south of Damascus has pitted Palestinians fighting with rebels against Palestinians from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command loyal to Assad

Over 1,000 Palestinian refugees crossed into Lebanon in the past 24 hours.

By News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

Videos published on the Internet appear to show people streaming out of the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus on Monday, which Syrian rebels claim to have captured.

Reuters is unable to independently verify the video content, but one shows a steady stream of people carrying bundles and luggage as they walk down a street covered with debris.

Continue Reading »
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| December 15, 2012
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Iran warns NATO that Patriot missiles in Turkey could lead to ‘world war’

Islamic Republic officials cautioning that the stationing of NATO missiles could cause conflict in the Middle East and Europe

By Reuters

 

The planned deployment of NATO Patriot missiles along Turkey’s border with Syria could lead to a “world war” that would threaten Europe as well, Iran’s military chief of staff was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert

A Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert, February 4, 2003 during a joint U.S. and Israeli exercise codenamed “Juniper Cobra.” – Photo by Reuters

Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept aircraft or missiles, in November to help bolster its border security after repeated episodes of gunfire from war-torn Syria spilling into Turkish territory. Continue Reading »

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| December 14, 2012
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Pentagon to send Patriot batteries, US soldiers to defend Turkey against Syria

Panetta signs deployment order to Turkey from Afghanistan, calling for 400 U.S. soldiers to operate two Patriot batteries at undisclosed locations in Turkey.

 

Germany & the Netherlands have already agreed to provide 2 batteries of the U.S.-built defense systems & send up to 400 German & 360 Dutch troops

By Reuters

 

The U.S. will send two batteries of  and 400 troops to Turkey as part of a NATO force meant to protect Turkish territory from potential Syrian missile attack, the Pentagon said Friday.

Turkey asks for NATO missiles

Patriot anti-missile batteries installed at the Diyarbakir military airport in southeastern Turkey. March 11, 2003 – Photo by AFP

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed a deployment order en route to Turkey from Afghanistan. Continue Reading »

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| December 7, 2012
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NATO to station Patriot missiles to protect Turkey from spillover

After the alliance’s decision to station defensive missile system to protect Turkey from spillover, Russia accuses NATO of embroiling itself into Syrian affairs.

By REUTERS

 

BRUSSELS – Russia accused NATO on Friday of moving towards involvement in the Syrian conflict, three days after the alliance decided to station Patriot missiles to protect Turkey from spillover from the violence.

Patriot anti-missile battery site

Patriot anti-missile battery site – Photo: Reuters

The charge came from Russia’s new ambassador to NATO, and came in spite of NATO assurances that the Patriots, which will be placed near Turkey’s border with Syria, are intended purely for defensive purposes.

“This is not a threat to us, but this is an indication that NATO is moving towards engagement and that’s it,” Alexander Grushko told reporters. Continue Reading »

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| December 1, 2012
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UN peacekeepers shot in Syria airlifted & treated in Israeli hospital

Israel treats 2 Austrian soldiers that were hit in a crossfire between gov’t soldiers and rebel forces.

 

Two UN peacekeepers are receiving urgent medical attention in Israel after being shot in Syria.

IDF’s 669 Search & Rescue crew was rushed to rescue injured soldiers in a Sikorsky CH-53 (Yasour) helicopter. – File Photo: Israel Air Force

 

The Austrian soldiers were injured in gunfire during fighting between fighters loyal to the Assad regime and rebel forces.

A spokesman for Rambam hospital in Haifa said that their injuries were not now considered life-threatening. The pair were airlifted to the Golan Heights from within Syria, then transported to Haifa in an Israeli military helicopter. Continue Reading »

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| November 23, 2012
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‘Israel Defense Force kinder than Assad’s army’

While the Arab media attempts to discern who won or lost the Gaza conflict, Al-Arabiya draws parallels between the Israeli and Syrian armies.

By Roi Kais

 

With a truce declared and Operation Pillar of Defense over, the media in the Arab world ventured to discern who were the winners and the losers in the conflict. Several papers chose to crown Hamas as the victor, while others claimed that Iranand the Palestinian Authority were on the losing end of the hostilities. Some even decided to draw parallels between the Israel Defense Forces and the Syrian army.

עזה - בלתי שבירה. מתוך "א-ראי" הירדני

Gaza is unbreakable. From Jordan’s Al-Rai newspaper

The London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi ran an opinion piece expressing disappointment with the terms of the ceasefire agreement that was reached between Israel and the Gaza factions. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| November 12, 2012
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Israel Responds Hitting Source After Syria Fires Another Mortar at Israel

The IDF returns fire Monday, for the 2nd time in 2 days after another mortar shell from Syria landed in the Golan Heights

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

A mortar shell from Syria landed in the Golan Heights Monday, prompting the IDF to return fire for the second time in two days, the first time it has fired into Syria territory since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Syrian mortar shell explodes in Golan - Photo: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Syrian mortar shell explodes in Golan – Photo: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The exchange came just hours after an appeal for restraint from all sides by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

An Israeli security source confirmed that troops had returned fire after a mortar round from Syria hit an Israeli position in the central sector of the strategic plateau, causing no casualties or damage. Continue Reading »

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| November 12, 2012
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Syrian Rebels warn Israel not to interfer

Syria’s rebel forces think Israeli fire in response to Syrian shell hit near northern border yesterday, was meant to ‘aid Assad’s criminal regime’

By Roi Kais

 

The Free Syria Army warned Israel on Sunday against interfering in the civil war which has been ravaging Syria since March 2011.

Free Syria Army soldiers – Photo: Reuters

A report by Turkey’s Anadolu news Agency quoted a statement issued by the FSA saying that Israel’s rocket fire at Syria on Sunday afternoon was aimed to help the Assad regime in his war against opposition forces.

Clashed between Damascus forces and the rebels have been edging closer to the Israeli border for weeks. Continue Reading »

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| November 9, 2012
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Israel warns Assad over continued Syrian fire into Israel’s Golan Heights

Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon says Israel holds Assad responsible for the 3 Syrian mortar shells that hit northern Israel.
8,000 Syrian refugees cross into Turkey during the night.

By Reuters

 

Israel warned Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday to prevent his anti-insurgency sweeps from spilling over into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, saying it was prepared to defend itself.

Damascus, November 8

Smoke rises from the eastern Damascus suburbs of Arbeen, after what activists say was an airstrike by a MIG fighter jet, November 8, 2012. – Photo by Reuters

The Golan, lost by Damascus in the 1967 Middle East war and mostly quiet for decades, was repeatedly hit by what the Israelis described as stray Syrian ordnance this week. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| November 6, 2012
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Syrian gunfire hit IDF jeep on Golan Heights

Battalion commander’s jeep hit on northern border with Syria

Israel appeals to UN over the 3 Syrian tanks that entered demilitarized zone in Golan

Stray Syrian bullets struck an IDF jeep on the northern border Monday night. The IDF said that the vehicle was damaged but that there were no injuries.

The army believes the bullets were fired in the course of battles near the border between the Syrian army and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Reserve soldiers (illustrative photo, soldiers pic - Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

Reserve soldiers by IDF Jeep (illustrative) – Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

“We have reported the incident to the United Nation Disengagement Force,” an army spokeswoman said.

Continue Reading »
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| November 4, 2012
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Chief of Staff Benny Gantz visits Golan Heights after Syrian tanks incident

IDF chief tours Golan border area day after 3 Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized zone; sees Syrian troops & rebels from across border

By Yoav Zitun

 

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz visited the Golan Heights on Sunday a day after three Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized buffer zone.

Gantz and his entourage were able to see battles between Syrian troops and rebel forces from the other side of the border.

הרמטכ"ל משקיף לסוריה (צילום: דובר צה"ל)

Gantz observes Syria. – Photo:IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

On Saturday, the IDF lodged a complaint with UN forces enforcing the ceasefire in the Golan Heights.

During the tour, Gantz spoke to commanders of the Golan Heights division and observed Syrian fighting taking place mere kilometers from the army posts. Continue Reading »

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| November 4, 2012
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Hezbollah under fire, but its hold is solid

Despite Syria’s conflict & depleted funding, terror group unlikely to loose strangle-hold on Lebanon

By the Associated Press

A maze of military bunkers and tunnels carved into a mountain near the border with Israel hints at why the Shiite Hezbollah movement is unlikely to lose its grip in Lebanon despite the setbacks it has suffered because of the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Mleeta, a former staging ground for Hezbollah’s battles with Israel that has been turned into a sprawling tourist attraction, is emblematic of the base of its power: its arsenal and military prowess.

That base ultimately remains firm, even if Hezbollah has faced sharper criticism among Lebanese for its siding with Syria’s regime in the civil war and even if it has reportedly suffered some reduction in aid from its top patron, Iran, squeezed by Western sanctions. Continue Reading »

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