Syria says its defences opened fire on Israeli aircraft over Syrian airspace

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AP

Syria says its defences opened fire on Israeli aircraft over Syrian airspace
Thursday September 6th, 2007

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syria air defences are reported to have opened fire on Israeli aircraft that violated Syrian
The official Syrian Arab News Agency did not give details on the type of weapons fired by the Syrian military.

However it quotes a military spokesman as saying the incident occurred around midnight.

The Syrian report is also unclear on the number and type of Israeli aircraft involved, whether fighter jets or some other kind of aircraft such as a drone.

The news agency quotes the military spokesman as describing the intrusion as a "flagrant aggressive act."

The spokesman also says Syria retains the right to respond in an appropriate way.



Read more: http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/67065

---

EDIT: Here's BBC link -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6981674.stm

[Robbien]

1. The Guardian article: Israel accused of air raid on Syria

Syrian air defences opened fire on Israeli aircraft that violated Syrian airspace overnight, a Syrian military spokesman said today.

The Israeli planes broke the sound barrier and "dropped ammunition" over deserted areas of northern Syria, the official Syrian Arab news agency quoted the official as saying.

. . .

Syria said the Israeli aircraft entered its territory through the northern border, coming from the Mediterranean and then heading east. "Air defence units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage," the spokesman said.

. . .

Israel's military did not comment other than saying it was looking into the report. Israel acknowledges flying over Lebanon routinely but it is unclear how often it flies over Syria.

. . .

Syria last fired at Israeli aircraft in June 2006 when they buzzed the summer residence of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2163764,00.html

[iconoclastic cat]

4. Probing Syria's defenses, maybe? nt

[maddezmom]

2. Syria says Israeli jets bomb territory, Israel denies there had been an air strike

Syria says Israeli jets bomb territory By Khaled Yacoub Oweis
23 minutes ago



DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria accused Israel of bombing its territory on Thursday and warned it could respond, but Israel Radio carried a denial there had been an air strike.

The official Syrian news agency said there were no casualties or damage and that Syrian air defenses fired on the incoming planes shortly after midnight.

Israel Radio, quoting an unidentified military source, said there had been no air strike on Syria. But a military spokesman told Reuters: "We're still checking."

The Syrian news agency SANA said the aircraft "infiltrated Syrian airspace through the northern border coming from the direction of the Mediterranean and headed towards northeastern territory, breaking the sound barrier."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070906/ts_nm/syria_israel_dc;_ylt=AhV.DDW7j969nVvbp_5Lf5Ws0NUE

[JCMach1]

3. Another Source

Damascus, Syria: Syrian air defenses opened fire on Israeli aircraft after they violated Syrian airspace overnight Thursday, a Syrian military spokesman said, in a new development in cross-border tensions that have brewed for months.

The Israelis broke the sound barrier and "dropped ammunition" over deserted areas of northern Syria overnight, the spokesman was quoted as saying by the official Syrian Arab News Agency.

The Syrians did not say the aircraft struck targets, and it was not clear what the spokesman meant by dropping ammunition. Warplanes sometimes drop extra fuel tanks to make the aircraft lighter and easier to maneuver... hursday's incident could stoke the tensions again, however. Late last month, Israeli security officials said the army had determined that war with Syria, whose military
had reduced its war readiness, was unlikely and Israel began rotating forces out of the Israeli-held Golan Heights.

"The Israeli enemy aircraft infiltrated into the Arab Syrian territory through the northern border, coming from the Mediterranean heading toward the eastern region, breaking the sound barrier," the spokesman said.

"Air defense units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage."

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on Thursday on a Syrian news report that Israeli aircraft bombed targets in Syria.
... http://gulfnews.com/region/Syria/10151798.html

[ClintonTyree]

5. Now, if this happened the other way around.....

and Syria invaded Israeli airspace, we'd have Bush all over the TV this morning condemning Syria's naked aggression and calling for regime change in Syria. No? :eyes:

[sabra]

6. White House declines comment on Syria charge

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WAT008049.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday declined to comment on Syria's charge that Israel bombed its territory.

Asked about Syria's accusation, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, "decline to comment."

[bemildred]

7. Nope, can't get to Iran that way ... nt

[mallard]

8. Syria says Israel bombs territory as Israel silent

Source: Yahoo! News (Reuters)

"DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria accused Israel of infiltrating its airspace and bombing its territory on Thursday and warned it could respond.


"The Israeli military said it would make no comment on the report, which spoke of no casualties or damage being caused.

"After months in which talk of reviving long-stalled peace negotiations has mingled with speculation on both sides that the other was preparing a surprise attack, Syrian officials hit out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Another Syrian official said: 'They dropped bombs on an empty area while our air defenses were firing heavily at them.'"



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070906/ts_nm/syria_israel_dc

---

Guess this puts negotiations over Gaza off the table and onto the battlefield, which neither side wants nor can afford. End of discussion, but why ... over what?

[leftchick]

9. well, I think it is practice

for the neocon plan of Israel Bombing Syria, while the US takes care of Iran. Insane I know, but then all of the neocon wetdreams are. :(

[bemildred]

10. It's kind of weird.

I was thinking it might be a probe to see if they could get over to Kurdistan and on to Iran. I'm pretty sure Turkey will not give them clearance for such an effort. But, for a number of reasons, that's really ridiculous. So I'm kind of stumped. Although I don't buy the "we don't know where our jets are" argument. Of course, Syria could be lying, but then why is the IAF not denying the claim?

[leftchick]

11. there is a little more information here

<snip>

"We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way," the spokesman said.

Syria said the Israeli aircraft entered its territory through the northern border, coming from the Mediterranean and then heading east. "Air defence units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage," the spokesman said.

Witnesses said they heard five planes or more above the Tal al-Abiad area on Syria's border with Turkey, around 100 miles north of the Syrian city of Rakka. They said the planes then headed south.

Israel's military did not comment other than saying it was looking into the report. Israel acknowledges flying over Lebanon routinely but it is unclear how often it flies over Syria.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2163764,00.html

[bemildred]

15. Or it could be a probe.

To test Syria's new air defenses. Russia recently gave them some new SAMS, IIRC.

[bemildred]

26. The thing is, Syria apparently repelled the incursion.

Whereas a year or so ago Israel was buzzing Damascus and Latakia (I think) with impunity. If that is true, it is big news.

[bemildred]

12. Or taken in the context of

1.) A decision to fly nukes around in B52s again
2.) A huge military demonstation taking place in the Arabian Sea
3.) The Cheney/AEI PR campaign for war on Iran
Etc.

One might think someone is working on provoking an incident, trying to get someone to jump the gun, so we can "retaliate". "Remember the Maine!!!"

[leftchick]

13. that makes more sense

than anything else. :(

[bemildred]

14. Some other bits & pieces:

ANALYSIS: The question is, how will Damascus respond?

---

So is this the outbreak of war? According to reports in Syria, this was clearly an isolated incident, not part of a battle or war.

Nevertheless, the incident does raise a number of questions. And even though this could well be a one-off that will for the time being not develop into anything more, it does send shockwaves across the region.

Every Arab media outlet is giving it intense attention, simply because in the Mideast every incident can have unexpected consequences.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901689.html

Iran offers to aid Syria following tensions with Israel

Iran's ambassador to Damascus, Mu , assured security officials in Syria that Teheran would be ready to offer Damascus any assistance it may need, Iranian media reported on Thursday afternoon following a resurgence of tensions between Israel and Syria.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3446741,00.html

Syrian Minister: We are seriously considering our response

---

Syrian commentator Faiz a-Sayeg told Hezbollah-affiliated TV station Al Manar that Israel is trying out invasion paths into Syria.

He said that the Israeli warplane was trying to evade Syrian radars, and that it had to drop ammunition to dodge anti-aircraft missiles. He said that Damscus will consider its response if the incident happens again.

"Syria will not be drawn into an inconsequential stand-off in this unfavorable time and place," A-Sayeg told Al Manar. He added that Israel knows well that "today's Syria is very different from yesterday's Syria," especially after the Second Lebanon War. He advised Israeli leaders to reconsider their policy after the last war.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901684.html

[sofa king]

16. Just a little probing in preparation for the invasion of Iran.

Last year, the Israelis responded to Hezbollah provocation by destroying road communications between Lebanon and Syria, hardly the best way to confront terrorists on their border.

The obvious strategic reason for doing such a thing has little to do with Lebanon or Hezbollah. Instead, it does a really good job of forestalling the possibility of Syria invoking a Schlieffen Plan against Israel, bypassing the heavily defended Golan Heights and invading through Lebanon instead.

With three or more American divisions parked at its back, the only opportunity Syria would have to even contemplate such a thing would occur when America sends those forces in the other direction, into Iran. At that point, Israel will be temporarily left to defend itself, and if Syria and Iran were working together, they could make things annoying for both Israel and the United States by widening the war.

If and when America does invade Iran, sometime before the end of the month, Israel may be inclined to preemptively attack Syria. Or, they may be wishing to send Syria a warning that Israel can do such a thing at their convenience.

In either case, probing the Syrian radar defenses is a necessary first step, to better evaluate the Syrians' state of readiness and competence.

[bemildred]

17. I have trouble imagining Syria invading without some prospect of air control.

On at least preventing Israeli air control.

[sofa king]

21. Yes, so do I.

Believe me, I'm not saying Syria is going to try invading Israel. All I'm suggesting is that if there is going to be an invasion of Iran, Syria suddenly becomes Israel's number one security threat, and they are certain to treat that threat seriously--even if you and I don't.

In the 1973 war, the Israelis were surprised and dismayed to discover how effective Syria's small, cheap and very numerous anti-aircraft missiles were, which was enough to deny the Israelis air supremacy for the first couple of days. I don't think Syria has a similar trick up its sleeve this time, but I doubt the Israelis forgot that lesson, either.

[bemildred]

23. All true, what you say.

Although I would say that Iran too poses a signicant threat with it's ballistic missiles. But Iran may have other uses for them in that event. It does seem likely that once they get the war going, a lot of other parties are likely to join in with one level of enthusiasm or another, and at that point prediction is a mugs game, you have to be ready for anything. At the least Iran, Syria, and Hizbullah are capable of attacking Israel with missiles, and they appear to have generous supplies of them.

[lovuian]

18. WWIII is fast approaching Are you all ready?

Its not just going to be bombing of Iran and walk away

its going to be fighting many countries on different fronts

[bemildred]

19. Syria Says It Repelled Israel Warplanes

JERUSALEM, Sept. 6 — Syria’s air defenses repulsed Israeli warplanes that violated Syrian airspace early today, according to the official Syrian News Agency, SANA. Other news reports cited officials in Damascus saying that the Israeli planes had dropped munitions on the ground. SANA said there had been no casualties or damage.

Israeli military officials would not confirm or deny the reports, saying only that they “do not comment on reports of that nature.”

Israel Radio cited an official Syrian spokesman as saying the aircraft had infiltrated Syrian airspace over the northern border, coming from the direction of the Mediterranean, before flying east.

The Syrian official added that Syria “warns the government of Israel over its aggressive act and reserves the right to respond however it sees fit,” Israel Radio said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/world/middleeast/07mideast.html?ref=world

[bemildred]

20. Syria accuses Israel of bombing its territory

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria accused Israel of bombing its territory on Thursday and said it could respond to the Jewish state's "aggression and treachery".

Israel declined to comment on the charge by Syria, which said no casualties or damage were caused. The Syrian accusation was partly responsible for triggering a rise in world oil prices of more than $1.40 a barrel.

"It appears that the Israeli planes were on a reconnaissance mission when they got caught by Syrian defences and were forced to drop their bombs and extra fuel tanks," said a Western diplomat in Syria's capital Damascus. He declined to be named.

http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?rpc=401&type=worldNews&storyID=2007-09-06T164550Z_01_L06204594_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SYRIA-ISRAEL.xml

[bemildred]

22. Israelis bomb Syria from air

---

Witnesses said they heard five or more planes above the Tal al-Abiad area on Syria's border with Turkey, around 160km north of the Syrian city of Rakka. The fighter jets then headed south.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=340&objectid=10462188

[bemildred]

24. Russia says it hopes Israel doesn't enter Syrian airspace again

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a message that Moscow hoped Israel would refrain from entering Syrian airspace again, to prevent upsetting the regional security situation.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3446824,00.html

[bemildred]

25. Washington declines to comment on Syrian-Israeli incident

When was the last time we declined to comment on Syria?

WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (KUNA) -- The United States said on Thursday that it followed media reports about the incident along the Syrian-Israeli border but still declining to provide any comment.

"We have seen reports in Syrian and Israeli media, and we have nothing further to add", said a source in the State Department who spoke to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on condition of anonymity.

---

"Both sides adjusted their military postures in Golan. In the latter part of 2006, Syrian forces along the Syrian-Israel border were reinforced with commando brigades and artillery units. Correspondingly, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reinforced its presence along the border to the highest level in 10 years by doubling the number of troops", added Cordesman in the report titled "Israel and Syria: the military balance and the prospects of War".

"Such a war would not be a zero sum game. It would rather be one in which both sides would lose relative to peace almost regardless of the outcome of the fighting and which side suffered most in the process", concluded Cordesman noting that a possible war would not be beneficial for both sides. (end) jm.tg KUNA 062126 Sep 07NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1839610&Language=en

[bemildred]

27. Israel and Syria seek to calm tensions over alleged border incursion

---

"Either this is in preparation for pushing Syria to peace talks by raising the stakes," said Thabet Salem, a political commentator in Syria, "or it's an attempt to abort any sort of calls for peace talks."

Taqqi, the political analyst in Damascus, said: "If the Israelis wanted to flex their muscles, it wasn't successful and it was dangerous. You have a situation now in which the Israeli government is too weak to make peace, but not too weak to start a war."

Some analysts in Syria speculated that the aircraft intrusion was aimed at scuttling secret talks that are said to be taking place in Rome among the Syrian vice president, Farouk Sharaa; the Israeli president, Shimon Peres; and the Lebanese prime minister, Fouad Siniora.

They said that Israel might have wanted to thwart that meeting. An Israeli official said he was "unfamiliar" with the existence of any such talks.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/06/africa/mideast.php

[rodeodance]

28. Syria fires on Israeli war planes

Source: afp




Syria fires on Israeli war planes

2 hours, 59 minutes ago

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syria said its air defences opened fire on Israeli warplanes which had violated Syrian airspace at dawn on Thursday, ratcheting up the tension between the neighbouring foes.


A Syrian cabinet minister warned that the nation's leadership was considering its response to the Israeli "aggression" while in Israel the military declined any comment.

"Enemy Israeli planes penetrated Syrian airspace from the Mediterranean Sea heading towards the northeast, breaking the sound barrier," a Syrian army spokesman told the official SANA news agency.

"Our air defences repulsed them and forced them to leave... after the Israeli planes dropped munitions, without causing human or material loss," he said, without giving further information on what exactly was dropped.
...........

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070906/wl_afp/mideastconflictsyriaisrael_070906161847;_ylt=AoVcJI70ci6CEt6Nq5d57TSs0NUE

[Ian David]

29. We. Are. Doomed. n/t

[Greeby]

30. Here comes that sinking feeling

:scared:

[sarcasmo]

31. I fear Cheney is going to get his wet dream.

The chance to Nuke Iran.

[endarkenment]

32. Why is Israel initiating acts of war against Syria?

Isn't this a war crime?

[formercia]

33. Probing a route to Iran.

Israeli planes intending to strike Iran would have to go through Syria because it would be to problematic to allow them through Iraq.

My guess is they were on a recon mission to probe for AAA.

[peacetalksforall]

34. Do you get the feeling that Israeli's will be the ones dropping the

bombs on Iran?

Do you get the feeling that Israel dropped something in parallel to the lost nuclear heads from yesterday? (i.e., the news was released yesterday).

If you violate air space, why do you have to drop something?

If you violate air space, why don't you apologize?

If you violate air space, why not acknowledge that you don't respect the people you violate and just say it instead of violating?

War boys with war toys. The end will come from boys and their toys who use their toys for offense, not defense.

Despicable.

So what are we going to hear from Israel? That Syria did something first?

The usual biblical eye for an eye?

I have no more sympathy for Israeli leaders or our leaders. Unfortunately, they have none for us.

Killers - all of them.

[Megahurtz]

35. I Wouldn't be Surprised

if the American B-52's carrying Nuclear Warheads incident has something to do with this. That didn't go through as planned so they're all scrambling to do something else within their time frame. :scared::nuke:

The problem with the aggressors (U.S./Israel) is that they seem to be getting caught looking really guilty in this. Why not leave others alone and just mind your own Country?
Killers all of them that care only for themselves, not us.:(

[formercia]

36. But, but, we couldn't stop the Israelis from flying over Iraq

and attacking Iran because we were on a stand-down to review procedures.


Shame on them for taking advantage of us like that.:sarcasm:

[Megahurtz]

37. Oh God.

Recent history oh so conveniently repeats itself. :(

[rockymountaindem]

38. Oh relax

This kind of thing happens all the time. It's not indicative of WWIII.

[peacetalksforall]

43. There are too many happenings and a hundred promises of bombing

from PNAC and 100 logical deductions to be made and all the links to the last time.

How is it not going to be WW III if we are going to cover their entire country with pinpoint bombings. Who is going to stand back and not react? Andorra? Guyana?

And Ledeen is in town. Leiberman kinda quiet - may be in check-out for AG. Levin sitting in for Leiberman.

WHY IS NO LEADER SAYING ANYTHING ANYTHING ANYTHING ABOUT IRAN SPECIFICALLY _ WE ARE NOT GOING TO BOMB IRAN WHETHER OR NOT IT IS DESIGNED TO CAUSE WW III.

I disown all of them except Kucinich.

All of Europe - apparently complicit.

No ME country is saying anything.

One Russia and China are grunting.

[HuffleClaw]

39. likely they were practicing for the coming strike on iran and got caught n/t

[Megahurtz]

40. Caught!

Trying to sneak in at Midnight yet.:eyes:

Sneaky evil Bastards.

[tocqueville]

41. more details in the Haaretz, Iran wants to help Syria

"That Syrian response will determine considerably how the rest of the incident plays out. Since the end of the Second Lebanon War in August of last year, Syria has emphasized that it could well engage in "resistance" activities against Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights.

In the lexicon of Arab diplomatic language, the term "moqawama" (resistance) means violent but legitimate activity against Israel. Even so, it seems that Syria will stick to the usual course of action, namely a request for condemnation of Israel by the United Nations Security Council.

Many questions remain unanswered regarding details of the incident, among them the exact number of IAF planes that entered Syrian airspace, and where exactly they were when they drew anti-aircraft fire. According to the Reuters news agency, witnesses saw four planes close to the Syrian-Turkish frontier, while a lone report on the Al-Arabiya satellite channel said that the IAF plane was attacked in the region of Qamishli, not far from the Iraqi border.

It's also hard to figure out the point of the mission. Syrian analysts, however, say that the aim was to examine flight paths inside their country which the IAF could use without discovery by Syrian radar."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901689.html

and here :

"Iran says Israel spreading regional insecurity, vows to aid Syria

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

Iran blasted Israel on Thursday over Syrian claims that its military fired on an Israel Air Force warplane in its airspace, accusing Jerusalem of "speading insecurity" in the Middle East.

"The aims of that... provocative move by the Zionist regime was to shift its domestic crisis into areas other than Palestine, spreading insecurity in the region and covering up its failure in the 33-day war against Lebanon," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini.

Iran's ambassador to Damascus had contacted Syrian security officials and said that "Iran is ready to provide every kind of assistance to Syria," the official IRNA news agency reported."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901684.html

1) it did happen
2) the consequences could be dire (it's all over the news in the ME)

why do I have this feeling of déjà-vu ?

[rmgarrette64]

42. Does no one else think this might be Syrian disinfo?

At this time, Israel is still denying the incursion. They might be lying, but we should at least consider that Syria's track record for truth telling is also at least a little bit lacking...

Why would Syria fake such an event? Gosh, hard to imagine, isn't it? Let's take the lowest hanging fruit available.

They want to tie Israel's hands so that they have a freer hand to muck around in Lebanon. Since their assassination(s) in Lebanon, they've been losing influence in their puppet state, and they don't like it. They want to shut down investigations - even more than they've done already - and get their people back in control. Israel has been a lot more effective than the UN in preventing their influence in Lebanon.

Another round of sanctions and UN investigations against Israel would surely benefit them.

No, obviously I'm not saying this is what happened. I have no more information than anyone else on this board - Ive read the news stories, this thread, and so on. But I'm seeing pretty much universal opinion here that Israel violated Syrian airspace for some nefarious reason.

Given who is making these claims, I think more than a little suspicion is warranted.

R. Garrett

[tocqueville]

44. why should then a reliable Israeli paper not deny it ?

your answer is typical : denial. Israel can't do anything wrong. If proven beyond all doubt that they did anyway, it's a mistake or an exception. Curiously it works pretty well in the US. In Europe we don't buy it any longer. It's amazing that people in the US can deny facts (this one or others) that the Israeli don't even deny themselves. Ah, them "Arab" conspirationists are SO clever...

[bemildred]

45. Israel has not denied it, Israel has refused to comment.

The IAF spokesperson said something like "We don't comment on military activities". Which is a ridiculous thing for a military spokesperson to say, that's his job, commenting.

That said, there is no reason to think the Syrian government would not lie if it thought it useful either, but it seems clear at this point that something occurred along the lines being discussed.

[Megahurtz]

46. Israel's Refusal To Comment

is a clear admission of guilt to me.

[bemildred]

48. There are other possible reasons.

For example, if the mission was successful, in the sense of gathering information, or spreading dis-information, one might not want to disturb the atmosphere of failure that now surrounds the story.

[JackORoses]

47. of course they're lying

[ohio2007]

49. well...seems the Russian SAM's failed to help......nt