Syrian troops caught inside Israel

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM ^ | Thursday, January 9, 2003

[jonatron]

TEL AVIV — Syrian troops fired on an Israeli military unit in the Golan Heights in the first such incident in years.

Israeli officials said Syrian soldiers opened fire on an Israeli commando force during a clash with infiltrators in the southern Golan Heights on Wednesday. The officials said Syrian soldiers entered Israel and encountered an Israeli unit in a border area where Israel, Jordan and Syria meet, Middle East Newsline reported.

"One of our infantry patrols on our side of the border was fired upon," Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said. "It returned fire, killing one armed man and captured another armed man who surrendered."

Israeli military sources provided the following account. They said that two men wearing Syrian army uniforms and armed with AK-47 assault rifles crossed into Israel. The infiltrators were soon spotted by an elite Egoz infantry unit.

The Israeli soldiers opened fire, killing one Syrian and wounding another. The sources said at that point Syrian soldiers nearby opened fire on the Israeli force. Nobody was wounded.

"Some of the [Syrian] soldiers opened fire on our forces," Brig.Gen. Avi Mizrachi, head of Israeli forces on the Golan Heights, said. "We did not respond."

The sources said three other men in Syrian army uniforms were on the other side of the border preparing to enter when the infiltrators were discovered. The Israeli force did not cross the Syrian border, the sources said.

Officials said this was the first time in decades that Syrian soldiers fired into Israel from the Golan Heights. The two countries have observed a United Nations ceasefire accord since 1974.

In Damascus, a Syrian government communique acknowledged the firefight along the border with Israel. But the official statement said the Syrian border police officers were searching for water and did not enter Israeli territory.

[r9etb]

But the official statement said the Syrian border police officers were searching for water and did not enter Israeli territory.

Riiiiiiiiiggghhht!

[jonatron]

From Debka File:

Syrian soldiers open cross-border fire Wednesday on Israeli foot patrol intercepting two would-be armed infiltrators at

Israel-Syrian-Jordanian border triangle. One infiltrator shot dead, second captured - both Syrian soldiers (like typical cowardly jihadists [-j]) in civilian dress.

DEBKAfile: Incident occurred at often-used crossing point for Palestinian, Hizballah and al Qaeda terrorists - as well as Syrian and Iraqi intelligence agents – heading into West Bank

[sheik yerbouty]

The Syrians started provoking the Israelis just prior to the Yom Kippur War. Something's up. The shi'ite isgoing to hit the fan.

[r9etb]

Something's up. The shi'ite isgoing to hit the fan.

Rumor has it that the Syrians are storing some of Iraq's WMDs, which would imply a very strong alliance between them. If they expect a war in the region, the thinking might be to tie up or defeat the Israelis while we're taking on Iraq. We would be in a tough spot -- as allies of Israel, we'd naturally want to help them; however, the Arab countries would be inclined to support the Syrians against Israel, which would put us in the position of having to choose between Israel, and the Arab countries in which our forces are based.

The thinking is probably that we'd end up taking the pragmatic approach and abandon Israel to its own devices. (Which probably ends up with somebody getting nuked.)

Our best option would be to secure a firm foothold on the Iraqi coast. This allows us to bypass the Arab countries altogether, and also to help Israel.

[My2Cents]

It is very likely that Iraq and it's ally Syria will attempt to blow up the action against Saddam into a region-wide conflagration, particularly a major effort to push the Jews out of Israel. Bush let it be known that if Israel were attacked in a US/Allies conflict with Iraq, he would not try to hold back their response. Maybe this thing will build into a major regional war, involving virutally every nation. Fine. If this is how we defeat fanatical Islam, and Arab dictatorships, we should be up for it. 50 years of status quo in the Middle East has led to nothing but anquish and the current war of attrition we see with the homocide bombers.

[Centurion2000]

Sounds like a good plan for Arab victory (/NOT)

Sounds like and even better plan for someone to experience a supercriticality in their territory.

[r9etb]

Maybe this thing will build into a major regional war, involving virutally every nation.

Somehow I doubt it would ever come to that. Between us and Israel, we could quickly and easily destroy the military capabilities of every country in the region. They all know that. And the rulers (especially the Saudis) also know that their continuation in power depends on there being an Israel, and on the support of the U.S.

It's entirely possible that there could be a widespread regional revolt by the salamikazis. This would be an extremely ugly situation, but I think the existing rulers would at that point work hard to take out (or turn over to us) the mad mullahs before they get to the point of threatening the existing regimes.

[My2Cents]

I think your analysis is sound. Clearly, this whole thing -- not just Iraq, but Syria, the Palis, Hamas, Hezbullah -- may be pressed to the edge until something pops. That may be Bush's ultimate plan. Press them to the wall such that they create a provocation that will give us the political and diplomatic ability to hose out the disease right here and right now. I'm for it.

[gura]

Rumor has it that the Syrians are storing some of Iraq's WMDs,

Impossible! Syria is a member of the UN Security Council!

:-)

[richardtavor]

Everything points to a Feb. 1 (new moon) start of the Air war and ground troops possibly as early as mid-February.

[sheik yerbouty]

Sure looks that way!

[sheik yerbouty]

That would seem to be a plan(a coastal landing) but Syria has never been known for its temperance. They will make their move soon.

[steveo]

Return them to Syria! Every last piece of them!