This is the same as a formal declaration of war.
You don't 'assist' the Lebonese unless your intent is to destroy Israel.
And I'm quite sure he wasn't suggesting 'food and blankets'.
No, it's not. Lebanon hasn't declared war on Israel and its armed forces are making no attempt to stop the Israelis.
Nor is there any indication that Lebanon asked for Syrian help.
No, it is nothing like that. The statement is vague, and deliberately so.
This report from Bahrain tones it down to non-military
Al Assad affirms Syrian solidarity with Lebanon
[url]http://english.bna.bh/?ID=47507[/url]
date: 15 07, 2006
[QUOTE][B]Beirut, July 15, (BNA) Syrian President, Bashar Al Assad, on Saturday, expressed his country's full solidarity with Lebanon and [COLOR="Red"]offered to put all Syrian potentials at its disposal mainly to rescue and treat the injured, ensure food and medicine supplies and help restore the bridges destroyed by Israel[/COLOR].
In a telephone call to Lebanese President, Emile Lahoud, Al Assad also affirmed that Syria would accommodate the refugees and treat them like Syrians. Lahoud valued Al Assad's initiative, affirming that Lebanon will resist to and repel the Israeli aggressions thanks to internal unity and the solidarity of its brotherly and friendly states. [/B][/QUOTE]
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From earlier this morning,...and the Captain's Quarters:
Israel Issues Ultimatum To Syria
******************************************** AN EXCERPT **********************************
Perhaps sensing a leadership vacuum in Damascus based on the odd report yesterday that Bashar Assad did not participate in a Ba'ath Party leadership conference, Israel has issued an ultimatum to Syria demanding the return of its soldiers and the end to Hezbollah activity along the border. If Syria does not comply within 72 hours, an Arabic newspaper reported, Israel will launch a major attack against Syria:
The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that “Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences.”The report said “a senior Pentagon source warned that should the Arab world and international community fail in the efforts to convince Syria to pressure Hizbullah into releasing the soldiers and halt the current escalation Israel may attack targets in the country.”
Al-Hayat quoted the source as saying that “the US cannot rule out the possibility of an Israeli strike in Syria,” this despite the fact that the Bush administration has asked Israel to “refrain from any military activity that may result in civilian casualties."
Last night the Syrians declared their solidarity with Hezbollah and warned Israel that it would not allow Hezbollah to fail in the latest war. That statement of alliance has obviously prompted Israel to call their bluff, and the silence of Bashar Assad will now get more attention. It is more than passingly strange that a nation would openly ally itself with another nation or group engaged in war on another nation without that statement coming from the head of state. It is inconceivable that such a policy announcement would occur in a dictatorship without the dictator himself being involved.
The Ba'athists in Syria may have been serious, but it seems more likely that they wanted to bluff Israel and the global community with what appears to be a rather empty threat. The Syrian military could not match up against the Israelis when they controlled Lebanon, and without Saddam Hussein as a backstop, they don't have a prayer now. Unlike Hezbollah, they actually have territory to lose, and they no longer control the strategic Golan Heights.