Tag Archive for Syrian unrest

| September 1, 2013
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Lebanese Report: Assad in underground Bunker

 

Syria leader has moved into an underground bunker with his staff, reported by a Lebanese newspaper that’s close to Damascus.

By Gil Ronen

 

Lebanese newspaper Aldiyar, which is considered to be close to Syria’s official leadership, reported Saturday that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is in an undergtound bunker at an unknown location, where he is staying along with his senior staff and other unknown senior officials.

President Bashar al-Assad – AFP photo

The bunker is serving as an operational headquarters in advance of the US attack on Syrian targets that is expected to take place by Monday at the latest.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 31, 2013
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Putin impugns Obama’s veracity: Present evidence at UN of chemical weapons used by Assad

 

UN’s investigative team leaves Syria, indicating American-French attack may be imminent.

Poll shows most French against strike on Syria.

Several nations advise their citizens against traveling to Lebanon.

By

 

The UN experts investigating last week’s alleged chemical weapons strike outside Damascus left Syria early Saturday and crossed into neighboring Lebanon, departing hours after President Barack Obama said he is weighing “limited and narrow” action against a Syrian regime that the administration has bluntly accused of launching the deadly attack.

The convoy of UN experts cross into Lebanon at the Lebanese border crossing point of Masnaa

The convoy of UN experts cross into Lebanon at the Lebanese border crossing point of Masnaa, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug.

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| August 31, 2013
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Report: Syria moving its prisoners to military targets as human shields

 

 

A British paper reports Syria buses filled with inmates were seen being moved to military targets to be exploited as human shields against any possible Western airstrike.

By Roi Kais

Thousands of Syrian prisoners have been moved to military targets to be used as human shields against Western air strikes, Britain’s Daily Mirror reported Friday.

Residents in Damascus Photo: Reuters)

Residents in Damascus – Photo: Reuters

According to the report, Damascus residents said they saw buses filled with inmates being taken from their cells to sites the regime believes could be targets.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition said: “Assad’s fascist regime is amassing activists and civilians in prisons in military locations that may be targets for foreign forces. Continue Reading »

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| August 31, 2013
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Kerry: Syrian assault won’t be like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Libya

 

US Sec. of St. Kerry promises the American people that the U.S. military action in Syria will be “limited & tailored”.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF, MICHAEL WILNER
 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry assured the war-weary American people on Friday that any decision the US would make on a military action in Syria would be a “limited and tailored response” and would not in any way resemble the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, nor its intervention to help topple former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

US Secretary of State John Kerry talking about possible US strike in Syria, August 30, 2013.

US Secretary of State John Kerry talking about possible US strike in Syria, August 30, 2013.

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| August 30, 2013
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With UK Retreat, France Supports U.S. Military Intervention in Syria

U.S. initiative to intervene militarily in Syria was received with French backing following the British parliament’s rejection of UK forces participation in the U.S.-led offensive.

By Ari Soffer

 

French President Francois Hollande gave a boost Friday to US hopes of forging an international coalition for possible strikes against Syria after British lawmakers rejected any involvement in military action.

UN Chemical weapons experts inspecting site of attack in Syria – Reuters

The White House had signalled Thursday that President Barack Obama, guided by the “best interests” of the United States, was ready to go it alone on Syria after deadly chemical weapons attacks last week.  Continue Reading »

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| August 29, 2013
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U.S. Report: Intel tying Assad directly to chemical weapons attack is ‘no slam dunk’

American Intelligence officials say they haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact locations of Assad’s supplies of chemical weapons’ depot, assessing that Assad may have moved them in recent days.

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The intelligence linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed at least 100 people is no “slam dunk,” U.S. intelligence officials say.

Assad air raid in east Syria - Reuters

Men search for survivors amid debris of collapsed buildings after what activists said was an air raid by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Assad in Raqqa province, Syria, August 10, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

President Barack Obama declared unequivocally Wednesday that the Syrian government was responsible, while laying the groundwork for an expected U.S. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| August 29, 2013
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Kuwaiti Report: Israel Agreed to ‘Act With Restraint’ If Attacked By Syria

An article in a Kuwaiti newspaper reported that Arab leaders from the Gulf states have asked that Israel act “with restraint” if attacked by Syrian missiles, and Jerusalem agreed.

By David Lev

 

A Kuwaiti newspaper reported Thursday that Gulf leaders have been in touch with Israel, and have asked that Israel act “with restraint” in the event of an attack by Western nations on Syria. That restraint would be necessary if Bashar al-Assad responds to an attack against him by attacking Israel.

Scud launcher – Photo courtesy: US Navy

Earlier this week, Syrian officials said that if Syria was attacked, a coalition of nations and terror groups, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, would respond with an all-out attack on Israel. Continue Reading »

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| August 29, 2013
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IDF Drafts Reservists as Precaution

 

There’s a ‘low probability’ that Syria would strike Israel, but the draft reflects the gov’t’s responsibility to prepare for all  scenarios, “no matter how unlikely.”

By HERB KEINON, YAAKOV LAAPIN
 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called on Israelis to carry on with their daily routines Wednesday in light of a possible US strike on Syria, even as the security cabinet approved a limited call-up of reservists in vital military capacities.

Israeli soldiers evacuate a mock victim during a drill simulating a chemical attack May, 2013.

Israeli soldiers evacuate a mock victim during a drill simulating a chemical attack May, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

The dual message of “stay calm but be prepared,” one government official said, reflected the continued assessments in Jerusalem that there was a “low probability” that Syria would actually strike Israel, but also reflected the government’s responsibility to prepare for all sorts of scenarios, “no matter how unlikely.”

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| August 29, 2013
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UN Chief Urges US & UK: Postpone Attack

UN Secretary-General Ban tells US & UK to delay strike on Syrian targets & give inspectors more time to investigate.

Syria takes advantage of ‘advanced warning’ to evacuate top military posts & prepare for attack.

By Maayana Miskin

 

 

The United States and Britain have come under pressure to delay military intervention in Syria, with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urging both countries to hold fire.

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon – AFP file

Speaking at a press conference at The Hague, Ban called to give UN inspectors more time to examine the scene of the chemical weapons attack near Damascus last week. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| August 29, 2013
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Russian leader: The West acts ‘like a monkey with a grenade’…again

China reminds everyone how the current affair ‘is reminiscent of the lead-up to the Iraqi War,’ which was also based on allegations that proved false.

As Moscow sends emergency supplies to Damascus the Russian deputy premier criticizes the looming Western attack on Syria.

By Dan Lavie and News Agencies

 

Russian officials on Tuesday unleashed scathing criticism of the looming U.S.-led strike on Syria.

Critical of the West: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin – Photo: Reuters

“The West behaves towards the Islamic world like a monkey with a grenade,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin posted on his Twitter account.

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| August 28, 2013
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Turkey military on alert, possible ‘engagement’ with NATO allies

 

Turkey’s Foreign minister in Ankara says “all options on the table…Turkey will take whatever measures necessary within the framework of its own strategic interests,”

By MICHAEL WILNER, MAYA SHWAYDER
 

 

WASHINGTON/ NEW YORK — Turkey has placed its armed forces on alert in light of possible security threats from Syria as the West continues to discuss military action on the Damascus regime in response to a supposed chemical weapons attack, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Wednesday.

Turkish soldiers.

Turkish soldiers. – Photo: REUTERS

Davutoglu asserted that “all options are on the table” for Turkey to address the use of chemical weapons in Syria on a massive scale.

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| August 28, 2013
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Unlike 1st Gulf War, IDF deploys Israeli defensive missile technology against Syria

  Photos: AP, MCT, AFP, Reuters, CD Bank

 

 

Additional Iron Dome batteries deployed in north including Israel’s Hetz defensive system.

‘IDF is prepared for any scenario, so no reason to change our routine,’ reports IDF spokesman.

By Yoav Zitun

 

 

Hetz (Arrow), the IAF’s missile interception system, has raised its alert level amid reports of a looming American attack in Syria in the coming days.

Iron Dome, Hetz, Patriot (Photo: Reuters, Defense Ministry)

Iron Dome, Hetz (Arrow), Patriot – Photo: Reuters, Defense Ministry

The IDF has also decided to deploy an additional Iron Dome missile defense system in the north. It will join a battery placed in Haifa a number of weeks ago. The IDF is considering deploying an additional battery in central Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| August 28, 2013
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Senior Syrian official: If Damascus attacked, Tel Aviv will be ‘set on fire’

 

 

Top Assad army officer tells Iranian news agency, ‘Israel will also be set on fire’ if anyone wages war against Syria.

By Roi Kais

“If Damascus is attacked, Tel Aviv will become a target and a full-scale war against Syria will essentially justify an attack against Israel,” a senior Syrian army official told Iranian news agency Fars on Tuesday.

Trying on my gas-mask - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Trying on my gas-mask – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

“If Syria is attacked, Israel will also be set on fire and such an attack will, in turn, engage Syria’s neighbors,” the source added.

The source also warned the US and other western states that if Syria “becomes weak,” certain “irresponsible” groups will be formed which will endanger Israel’s security. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| August 27, 2013
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WATCH Video: PM Netanyahu tells Syria, Israel will retaliate forcefully if attacked

 

Israeli PM records clear & stern warning for Syria on possible eve of joint US-British strike against chemical weapons storage facilities.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israeli Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday held emergency consultations with his security cabinet ahead of an expected American-British attack on Syria.

Embattled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has threatened to retaliate against Israel if Western powers intervene in Syria’s bloody civil war.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Netanyahu recorded the short video below in which he sternly warns Assad against targeting Israel.

The video is in Hebrew. The following is a translation of Netanyahu’s statement:

“We are prepared for any scenario. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 27, 2013
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Israel’s homefront on ‘alert’ for possible Syrian attack

PM Netanyahu convenes security cabinet as IDF announces major drill on the Golan Heights & Patriot anti-missile batteries in Haifa are put on alert. 

Education Minister Shay Piron: School system ready for any deterioration of security situation.

By Gideon Allon, Hili Yacobi, Daniel Siryoti, Yael Branovsky, Nitzi Yaakov & Israel Hayom Staff

 

With U.S.-led military action in Syria potentially imminent, the Knesset Homefront Preparedness Subcommittee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday to examine the homefront’s readiness for a Syrian attack against Israel.

A Patriot anti-missile battery in Haifa – Photo: Herzl Shapira

“The state’s duty is to be ready for any scenario,” MK Eli Yishai, the subcommittee chairman, said.

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