Posted on 07/20/2012 4:23:38 PM PDT by IsraelBeach
Barak: Israel may seize advanced weapons in Syria
By REUTERS
Israel Defense Minister tells Israeli TV Ch. 10 he has instructed military to prepare for possible operation if Syrian government attempts to hands missiles or chemical weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel is preparing for a possible military intervention in Syria in case the Syrian government hands missiles or chemical weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Friday.
"I have instructed the military to increase its intelligence preparations and prepare what is needed so that ... (if necessary) ... we will be able to consider carrying out an operation," Barak said in an interview on Channel 10 television.
"We are following ... the possible transfer of advanced munitions systems, mainly anti-aircraft missiles or heavy ground-to-ground missiles, but there could also be a possibility of the transfer of chemical means (weapons) from Syria to Lebanon," he added.
"The moment (Syrian President Bashar al-Assad) starts to fall we will conduct intelligence monitoring and will liaise with other agencies," Barak said.
Hezbollah, which has in the past received military and financial support from Syria and Iran, launched thousands of mainly short-range rockets into Israel during Israel's 2006 offensive in southern Lebanon, but some longer-range rockets reached central Israel.
Their border has largely remained quiet since then.
On Thursday, Barak toured the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the Middle East war in 1967 and from where it can monitor movements inside the territory of its northern foe.
Barak said Israeli troops were preparing to prevent an influx of refugees into territory that Israel controls there.
"They (refugees) have not chosen to come close to us, but in the event of the regime's downfall, which could happen..., (Israeli forces) here are alert and ready, and if we have to stop waves of refugees, we will stop them," Barak said.
Syrian rebels have assassinated four of Assad's closest aides in Damascus and seized three border crossings with Iraq and Turkey this week, putting the Syrian leader under greater pressure than at any time in the 16-month uprising against his rule.
I’ve been waiting for this. Don’t be surprised if Turkey, Russia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia provide support under the table.
I agree that Israel may need to interdict Syrian weaponry. There’s also a reasoned thought that some of the hand-off may include some of Saddam Husein’s weapons. I doubt Hezbollah will stand by and watch Israel do this though, and this may spark other interventions.
Russia, China, and for that matter Europe too, these folks sure are a lot of help. Let’s hope this S hits the fan prior to Iran going nuclear. As we have seen, nobody is going to put a stop to that.
Will Hillary and Obama be able to stir this up enough to get the muslim/Israeli shooting war they want just before the election?
You're probably right. As America built up forces to invade Iraq, massive movements of material were reportedly on roads to Syria.
You're probably right. As America built up forces to invade Iraq, massive movements of material were reportedly on roads to Syria.
Israel should move in quickly and take Lebanon outright.
I'd be surprised to see our Douchebag getting any information about Israeli operations.
Israel will only give the Kenyan Douchebag 5 minutes of notice. And, that will be AFTER 5 minutes elapses, not before. I hope those in the US forces, at their scopes and PCs, that know first, not make haste when they see firsthand the SHTF, and walk, not run, to the phone; take a drink of water from the fountain on the way...
And, mkjessup, don't cross out Russia. Their geopolitical interest is their base on the Mediterranean. They don't want WMD's running around any more than Israel. One of those WMD's could end up in Chechen hands.
Go Israel!
They’ll stop at the nearest Starbucks for a latte first.
Someone please explain to me, why they are talking about this before they do it?
It’s getting closer.
Isaiah 17:1 ¶ The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from [being] a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
“don’t be surprised if Turkey,, Russia, Jordan”
You forgot to mention the United States. Oh, sorry I forgot that our current president doesn’t like Israel.
That’s why I didn’t mention the United States.
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