Syria

Officials warn of Syria conflict quickly spiraling out of control

May 23, 2013 -

IDF Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz toured the Golan near the border with Syria Tuesday, and told lawmakers that tensions in the north could quickly devolve into war.

Earlier in the day Gantz told another group that the situation with Syria is unstable. He said Israel had to make decisions every day, "that could lead us to a sudden and uncontrollable deterioration.”

Meanwhile Home Front Defense Minister Gilad Erdan said that major Israeli cities could be pounded by rockets at any time. He said that the question is, "when it’ll happen,”

Source: Times of Israel

Senate: US must back Israel in case of Iran strike - The Democratic-led Senate voted 99-0 in favor of a resolution that the United States should support Israel if it were forced to defend itself from an Iranian nuclear threat. - Jerusalem Post

Damascus Countdown: Syria is “breaking up,” reports NYT. Ominous trend lines. - Joel Rosenberg

Does Bible Prophecy Fortell the Destruction of Damascus? - Older post from Joel Rosenberg

Prophetic Significance of Syria

Hezbollah steps up fighting in Syria; Israel threatens more strikes

May 20, 2013 - Hezbollah from Lebanon attacked Qusair, a Syrian town, and was met with Syrian warplanes that killed at least 52 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was “preparing for every scenario” in Syria and held out the prospect of more Israeli strikes inside Syria to stop Hezbollah and other opponents of Israel getting advanced weapons.

Source: Japan Today

Ed. note: Sometimes we have to use foreign news sources. Because of the scandals in Washington the U.S. media is ignoring important Middle East news.

Report: Syria has missile batteries aimed at Tel Aviv - Jerusalem Post

Palestinians, Syrians form units to fight for Golan

May 13, 2013 - The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Syrian terrorist group, says they are forming combat units to try to recapture the Golan Heights, and then liberate all areas that have been taken by Israel during its many wars. Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah said that they would support the group's operations.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Observatory: Syrian war death toll rises to 82,000

May 12, 2013 - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that At least 82,000 people have been killed and 12,500 others are missing after two years of civil war in Syria. Most of the casualties were government troops and militia loyal to President Bashar Assad.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Outrage at Syrian rebel shown 'eating soldier's heart' - BBC

Israel to Russia: Don't Give Syria S-300 Missiles

May 9, 2013 - Israeli security officials say that Israel has asked Russia to cancel the sale of S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Syria.

Israel aircraft evaded Syrian air defenses twice in the past week to strike weapons said to be headed to Hezbollah. . . Officials said the aim was to deprive Hezbollah of weapons that could someday be used against Israel.

Source: ABC

Game-changing Russian missiles 'already in Syria' - WND

Report: Syria to permit Palestinians to attack from Golan

May 7, 2013 - According to the Syrian daily Al Watan Syria will respond to recent Israeli air strikes by allowing Palestinian resistance factions to attack Israel across the border of the Golan Heights.

According to the report, the initiative was due to be discussed in upcoming meetings between Syria and Palestinian faction leaders, said Khalid Abd al-Majid, secretary- general of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Syria: We'll 'Choose the Moment' to Hit Back

May 6, 2013 - In Damascus the Syrian information minister Omran al-Zoubi told a press conference,

"Syria will respond to the Israeli aggression and will choose the moment to do so... We will not accept to be humiliated... We are all in a state of anger. We are abused by this attack."

Source: Israel National News

Israel to Assad: Airstrikes Did Not Aim to Help Syria Rebelsw - NewsMax

'Israel hit Syria weapons transfer again'

May 5, 2013 - For the second time in two days Israel conducted an air strike to destroy Iranian Fateh-110 missiles that were in transit from Iran to Hezbollah. The attack shook Damascus with multiple explosions.

The target of Sunday's attack, according to Syrian media, was the same Jamraya military research center which was hit by Israel in January. Jamraya, on the northern approaches to Damascus, is just 15 km (10 miles) from the Lebanese border.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Syria: Israel strikes are a declaration of war - Jerusalem Post

Israeli Strike on Syria Targeted Weapons Shipment

May 4, 2013 - For the second time this year the Israeli Air Force destroyed weapons inside Syria. The weapons were to be dellivered to Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. U.S. officials confirmed the attack and said that the strike was against a warehouse.

The officials said the attack took place early Friday and was aimed at sophisticated "game-changing" weapons, but not chemical arms. One official said the target was a shipment of advanced, long-range ground-to-ground missiles.

Meanwhile, President Obama says he does not forsee US ground troops in Syria.

Source: NewsMax

Obama hints at potential military action in Syria

May 1, 2013 - News reports say that Hezbollah may enter the fray in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. President Barack Obama signaled Tuesday he would consider U.S. military action against Syria if "hard, effective evidence" is found to bolster intelligence that chemical weapons have been used in the two-year-old civil war.

The U.S. might start by providing weapons and ammunition for the Syrian rebels.

Source: CBC

Republicans urge Obama to enforce Syria 'red line,' oppose deploying troops

Apr. 29, 2013 - On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Arizona Sen. John McCain called for President Obama to take action against Syria since it has apparently crossed the "red line" of using chemical weapons on its citizens twice in March.

He and fellow Hill lawmakers fear the chemical weapons could be more dangerous in the hands of U.S. enemies or those who might overthrow Assad. And he joined in calls for the United States to be part of an international force to safeguard the weapons.

McCain and other lawmakers interviewed on the Sunday programs said that we should definitely not send troops into Syria.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham agreed that the U.S. should safeguard the Syrian weapons without sending in a ground force, but warned that if we do not act soon, "The next bomb that goes off in America may not have nails and glass."

Source: Fox

Israeli Prime Minister convenes security cabinet amid Syria concerns - Jerusalem Post

Israel wary quiet on Syrian front may soon end

Apr. 27, 2013 - On the Golan Heights in Israel, which has been the quietest of Israel's front lines for 40 years, there is renewed military activity. Rebels hold the Syrian village of Bir Ajam on the Syrian side. Stray mortar shells often land in Israeli territory. IDF forces there have built a new formidable wall along the border and have increased their readiness for battle. Gal Hirsch, a reserve Israeli brigadier general said,

“Syria became a place that we see as a big threat to Israel and that is why we started to work in the last two years on a strong obstacle, on our infrastructure, in order to make sure that we will be ready for the future. And the future is here already.”

Source: Times of Israel

'Action on Syria red line sends message to Iran'

Apr.26, 2013 - Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin said that a failure to act against Syria now that there is evidence they have crossed the US "red lines" by using chemical weapons will be seen as a sign of weakness to Iran.

The White House was cautious on Thursday, stating that intelligence assessments were not sufficient and "credible and corroborated facts that provide us with some degree of certainty will guide our decision-making.”

Source: Jerusalem Post

Syria has used chemical weapons, Israeli military says

Apr. 23, 2013 - Israeli Brig Gen Itai Brun told a security conference in Jerusalem that Syria has already been using chemical weapons against their own people.

"To the best of our professional understanding, the regime has made use of deadly chemical weapons against the rebels in a number of incidents in the past."

He said that sarin was the chemical, and photographs of victims show them foaming at the mouth and having other unspecified symptoms that would be caused by sarin.

Source: BBC

Report: Jordan allows Israel to use its airspace for Syria attack - YNet News

Israel ready to defend against Syrian WMDs

Apr. 19, 2013 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the BBC that Israel doesn't seek to interfere in the Syrian civil war, but it will defend itself if the need arises. He added,

"The main arms of concern to us are the arms that are already in Syria - these are anti-aircraft weapons, these are chemical weapons and other very, very dangerous weapons that could be game changers."

Source: Jerusalem Post

Chemical Weapons Used in Syria

Mar. 19, 2013 - Syrian state media reports that rebels have fired a chemical weapon in the province of Aleppo. Rebels denied the report, and claimed that the government used the weapon.

"We were hearing reports from early this morning about a regime attack on Khan al-Assal, and we believe they fired a Scud with chemical agents," a senior rebel and spokesman for the Higher Military Council in Aleppo, Qassim Saadeddine, told Reuters news agency.

Source: BBC\

Update 3/20/13 - Israeli Official: Chemical Weapons Used in Syria - NewsMax

Number of Syrian refugees has topped 1 million, UN agency says

Mar. 6, 2013 - The Syrian uprising that began in March of 2011 has now resulted in the death of approximately 70,000 people, and now the UN refugee agency says the total number of refugees has gone over the 1 million mark.

The announcement came as government troops and rebels fought street battles in Syria's strategic northern city of Raqqa. The Syrian military dispatched reinforcements in an attempt to push out opposition gunmen who now control most of the city, activists said.

Source: Fox

US pledges $60m and nonlethal aid to Syrian rebels

Feb. 28, 2013 - While in Rome for an international conference on Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the US will assist the rebels who are fighting to oust President Bashar Assad. $60 million will be provided in addition to non-lethal aid, like food and medical supplies. The purpose of the aid is to...

... increase the pressure on Assad to step down and pave the way for a democratic transition ... noting that the aid was also intended to help the opposition govern newly liberated areas of Syria and blunt the influence of extremists.

Source: Times of Israel

Syria conflict: John Kerry extends US aid to rebels - BBC

Iraq Prime Minister Maliki: Syria War Could Spread Throughout Region - NewsMax

Kerry: US committed to helping Syrian rebels

Feb. 27. 2013 - An international meeting in Rome this week will discuss assistance to Syrian rebels who are trying to topple President Bashar Assad. Leaders of the resistance have said they might not attend, but US Secretary of State is urging them to come because the US is willing to help them.

"We are determined that the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind wondering where the support is or if it’s coming," Kerry said. "And we are determined to change the calculation on the ground for President Assad."

Source: YNet

Syria conflict: Many dead in huge Damascus bombing

Feb. 22, 2013 - A massive car bomb killed at least 53 people and injured another 200 in Damascus. The explosion was near the headquarters of Syria's ruling Baath Party.

The Syrian foreign ministry blamed the bombing on "armed terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda that receive financial and logistic help from abroad.

Source: BBC

Syria crisis: 'Missile strike levels Aleppo neighborhood'

Feb. 20, 2013 - The Syrian government fired a missile into the neighbourhood of Jabal Bedro in Aleppo. An AP picture shows the devastation and people searching through the debris of destroyed buildings.

Nearly 90,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Jordan since the beginning of 2013, fleeing intensifying violence, Reuters reports

Source: Guardian UK

A look at major bombings in Syria since the country's uprising began in 2011 - Fox

'Turkish FM slams Israel for strikes, Syria for inaction'

Feb. 2, 2013 - Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Syrian President Bashar Assad should have launched aircraft and used missiles to protect his country when Israel attacked earlier this week. He asked,"Why didn't Assad even throw a pebble when Israeli jets were flying over his palace and playing with the dignity of his country?" He also suggested that Assad's inaction was due to "a secret agreement" with Israel.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Report: IAF strike in Syria hit Iranian Guards

Feb. 1, 2013 - After about 48 hours the apparent truth about Israel's attact in Syria came to light through an Iraqi newspaper. It quoted a Western diplomatic source, that claimed the operation caused heavy casualties among special Iranian Guards stationed at the Syrian research facility.

The source also said that the base was heavily fortified and contained experts from Russia and at least three thousand Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who have been guarding the site for years. Many of these Iranian Guards suffered casualties.

Israel used F-16 aircraft to fire at least eight guided missiles at the facility.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Assad's fall imminent, says Israeli defense minister - Saudi Gazette

Hezbollah, Russia condemn Israeli airstrike inside Syria

Jan. 31, 2013 - There are conflicting reports about claims that Israel executed air strikes yesterday against a target on the border between Syria and Lebanon. First unoficial reports said the target was a convoy of anti-aircraft missiles on its way to Lebanon or a military facility involved in chemical weapons production.

Israel and the U.S. have made no official comment. Either scenario was a possibility, but Anthony Cordesman, a senior analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that Syria may simply be blaming Israel for the loss of a facility that had fallen to rebels or been destroyed by other means. They questioned whether Israel would actually attack a site where chemical weapons were stored.

Hezbollah condemned the airstrike as “barbaric aggression.” They are supporters of the Syrian government.

The Associated Press reported. Russia, Syria’s chief patron, said the strike would constitute “unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the U.N. Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it.”

Source: Washington Post

Syria and Iran threaten to retaliate against Israel for air raid near Damascus - Fox

Iran threatens ‘grave consequences’ for Israel after Syria strike - Times of Israel

US official: Israel notified us about Syria attack - Times of Israel

Syria warns of 'surprise' response to Israeli strike - Jerusalem Post

Khamenei aide: Attack on Syria is an attack on Iran - Jerusalem Post

Egypt, Syria are falling apart – an Israeli nightmare unfolds

Jan. 29, 2013 - Israel may be on the brink of war with its neighbors. Egypt's defense minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has warned that the political crisis there may cause the new government to collapse.

Syria is "falling apart" according to Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel. Hezbollah forces are camping near Syria's chemical weapons site, ready to seize them. The prolonged civil war there may spill over into Israel at any time. Three Iron Dome anti-missile batteries were stationed over the weekend in northern Israel. Defense Minister Ehud Barak cut short an overseas family trip Saturday and flew home because of the tensions.

Israel is coming face to face with its worst fear: being hemmed in by a blazing ring of hopeless conflicts just across its borders: Syria and Lebanon in the north; Egypt in the west and south; and Jordan under threat.

Source: DEBKAfile

Update:

Israel Hits Target in Syria Border Area - NewsMax

Israeli jets reportedly attack convoy on Lebanon-Syria border - Times of Israel

Syrian rebels say they've captured strategic military base

Jan. 11, 2013 - Rebel fighters from various Islamic groups, including the jihadist al-Nusra Front, claim to have captured a military base in Idlib provinde. The base has been used by the government to bomb rebel camps.

Source: CNN

Winter Brings Misery to Syria Refugees - NY Times

Terrorist group fills power vacuum among Syria rebels

Jan. 10, 2013 - Nada Bakos, a former Central Intelligence Agency analyst, explains that the group Jabhat al-Nusra was recently designated by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization with ties to al-Qaeda. It has about 5,000 fighters, and is considered the most effective force in the Syrian insurgency against Bashar al-Assad's government. It is popular with the people because of its charitable efforts to assist the people who feel abandoned by the government.

Bakos explains that if the organization continues to grow it will become very dangerous.

With time and opportunity, al-Nusra could not only add to regional instability in the Middle East, but also rekindle global jihad.

Source: Nada Bakos - CNN

Syria’s Assad is defiant in rare speech

Jan. 7, 2013 - Weary, but determined to continue his effort to crush the uprising against his rule, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad proposed a period of “transition,” in which a new government would be formed, a national pact would be drafted and a referendum would be held.

He put the onus of responsibility for the plan on Western powers, which he said must end their support for the opposition before the implementation of a cease-fire and the convening of a national conference to chart reforms.

Meanwhile the U.N. claims that at least 60,000 lives have been lost in the conflict, his army is losing ground, and his closest allies are concerned about the outcome of the struggle.

Source: Washington Post

Syria conflict: Iran backs Assad speech – live blog - The Guardian

'Russian ships gathering off Syria to deter West' - Jerusalem Post

Israel to build fence along Syrian border amid fears of violent spillover - CNN

Pope calls for end to Syria slaughter - ABC

US says Syria's Assad 'detached from reality' - Chanel 4 News

Analysis suggests more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syrian conflict

Jan. 3, 2012 - A new analysis by the United Nations says that at least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil war. This number is a third more than the figure of 45,000 recently given by activists opposed to the regime of President Bashar Assad.

It comes as activists report that a Syrian warplane blasted a gas station near Damascus on Wednesday, killing and wounding dozens of people and igniting a huge fire.

Source: Fox