Israel warns Syria over Hezbollah attacks

[Swede]

Israel has delivered a secret warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad that it will respond to missile attacks from Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese-based Islamist group, by launching immediate retaliation against Syria itself.

In a message, sent earlier this month, Israel made it clear that it now regards Hezbollah as a division of the Syrian army and that reprisals against Syria will be fast and devastating.

It follows the discovery by Israeli intelligence that Syria has recently supplied long-range ballistic missiles and advanced anti-aircraft systems to Hezbollah.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7101106.ece

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. some "secret"..

That aside, the zionist politicians and military have sure been quite belligerent lately--bandying around threats about this, warnings about that, the occasional actual missile or tank shell for full flavor.. would it be too difficult to have a few shipments of valium or some other sedatives flown over from Southern California before this nuclear-armed child throws too big of a tantrum and ends up hurting itself?

[azurnoir]

2. ah Israel shows it's "strength" once again

but I doubt Syria really has too much to worry about recent history shows when Israel really really wants to show its stuff it does it in Gaza

[Swede]

3. If Hezbollah uses these missiles,I'd vacate Damascus.

Lay low in the desert for awhile.

[azurnoir]

4. Ah yeah and perhaps TelAviv should be evacuated too

because Syria has the capability of retaliating in kind which is exactly why it will not happen Israel prefers soft targets these days

[Swede]

7. They shut down Beiruit in a couple of hours.

No power,no water,no airport. Damascas would not hit back,they would never get the Golan heights back.

[azurnoir]

9. Syria has a bit more military strengnth than Lebanon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Air_Force

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Force

and under the circumstances why would Damascus not hit back

[Dick Dastardly]

10. The last time Israel and Syria met it was the largest combat of the jet age and

Israel utterly crushed Syria. Israels technological and qualitative edge is far greater today than it was then when Syria had a top of the line Soviet air defense system.

In 1982, American-made Israeli fighters engaged the Syrian air force, shooting down 86 MiGs in a single day without a single loss, revealing a shocking Soviet technological backwardness that dealt a major blow to Soviet prestige abroad and self-confidence among its elites at home (including Politburo member Mikhail Gorbachev).
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/08/israels_lost_moment.html

The Israeli Air Force shot down 86 Syrian aircraft, with no air combat losses of its own. This was the largest combat of the jet age with 150 fighters from both sides.<43> It also performed ground attacks, notably destroying the majority of Syrian anti-aircraft batteries stationed in Lebanon. AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships were used widely against Syrian armor and fortifications. The IAF Cobras destroyed dozens of Syrian Armored fighting vehicles, including some of the modern Soviet T-72 main battle tanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Lebanon_War

[classysassy]

5. When will Syria warn us

the ones that supply Israel with their weapons and support at the UN to cease and desist.If they do their warning will fall of deaf ears.

[azurnoir]

6. Washington promotes Syrian ties despite weapons alarm

THE Obama administration is pressing forward with a plan to expand US relations with Syria and enlist Damascus in the Middle East peace effort, despite alarm in Washington and abroad over charges that Syria is providing potent new weapons to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Mr Obama last year outlined plans to elevate ties with Syria as part of an effort to improve US standing in the Arab world and advance Israeli-Palestinian talks. High-level contacts were severed in 2005 when the Bush administration recalled its ambassador amid charges that Syria was involved in the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister.

Trying to rebuild US-Syrian contacts, a series of Obama administration officials have travelled to Damascus over the past year. Officials also have taken other steps towards closer engagement this year, including cancelling a warning to Americans about travelling to Syria.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/washington-promotes-syrian-ties-despite-weapons-alarm-20100418-smja.html


IMO this may have something to do with Israel's belligerency towards Syria too

[Tripmann]

8. Excellent,

Assad is a guy you can talk to. Good move by Obama.