Report: Israel behind recent strike on Syria missile depot, U.S. officials say - Diplomacy & Defense - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Several blasts that took place on July 5 at a critical Syrian port was the result of airstrikes by Israeli fighter jets, multiple U.S. officials told CNN.

Friday's CNN report cited three unnamed U.S. officials as saying that the airstrikes targeted Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles.

No one had officially claimed responsibility for the explosions at Latakia, in Syria's north.

Israel's government has also declined to comment on the allegations.

In a statement released the previous Friday, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that "huge explosions shook the area where a large Syrian army base and weapons depots are located."........

Report: Israel behind recent strike on Syria missile depot, U.S. officials say - Diplomacy and Defense - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Lee Smith: Our Strategic Ally's Strategic Clarity

by Lee Smith

May 8, 2013 4:01 PM

Israel’s air campaign this past weekend, its two strikes Friday and Sunday on Syrian targets, shows where the Obama administration has gotten Syria wrong. Over the last few weeks, the White House has framed its Syria policy, or its lack of one, in terms of Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons arsenal and the growing strength of the Islamist opposition, including al Qaeda affiliates. With these talking points, the administration has managed to tie up its critics on two fronts.

First, the debate over whether or not Assad crossed Obama’s red line by using chemical weapons has obscured the fact that for over two years the White House has failed to take an active position in Syria and advance American interests by toppling an Iranian ally. The longer deliberations over the chemical weapons/red line story drag on the better it is for an administration that is simply using it to play for more time—to do nothing.........

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Our Strategic Ally's Strategic Clarity

Confident Israeli strikes on Syria send a message to the nervous US | The Times of Israel

Washington is wary of striking at Tehran’s nuclear program because it fears the Iranian response; Israel wants to show the consequences can be minimal.

 Illustrative photo of IAF F-15I fighter jets being refueled by a Boeing 707, during an air show at the graduation ceremony of Israeli pilots at the Hatzerim air force base in the Negev desert, on Thursday, June 28, 2012 (photo credit: Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)

FULL ARTICLE: Confident strikes on Syria send a message to the nervous US | The Times of Israel

'Strike in Syria sends a message to Iran,' says former intel chief | The Times of Israel

An IAF F-15 fighter jet during a training exercise (photo credit: Ofer Zidon/Flash90)

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Sunday morning’s strike inside Syrian territory, which reportedly targeted advanced Iranian missiles headed for Hezbollah, was primarily a message for Iran, former IDF intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said on Sunday.

“Iran is testing Israel’s and the US’s determination to uphold ‘red lines.’ And what it is seeing in Syria is that at least some of the actors take red lines seriously,” said Yadlin..............

FULL ARTICLE HERE: 'Strike in Syria sends a message to Iran,' says former intel chief | The Times of Israel

Israeli Air Force continues air strikes against Damascus

Damascus, the same facility which Israeli 
planes attacked in January.  

debkafile: The Israeli operation in Syria appears to be in its opening stages, after the first round failed to prevent the transfer of Iran-supplied Scud D and Fateh-110 missiles to Hizballah units fighting in Syria the next day, Saturday. Syrian state TV reported the attack on Jamraya. There was no comment from Israeli spokesmen.

Arab sources reported a series of explosions and fires north of Damascus early Sunday. They say Israeli rockets also hit two 4th Division Republican Guard battalions. The 4th Division is the main Syrian military unit buttressing the regime. It is commanded by President Bashar Assad’s brother, Gen. Maher Assad.........

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Israeli Air Force continues air strikes against Damascus

TAKING ON SHIITE AXIS: Syria says Damascus targeted by fresh Israeli strike | The Times of Israel

Syrian rebel video of what is apparently Israeli air bombardment of Assad regime strategic points.

State TV reports military site on outskirts of capital hit by Israeli rockets; IDF declines to comment; Israeli planes reportedly hit Iranian missile shipment in Damascus on Friday.

Syrian state television reported Israel struck an area near Damascus early Sunday morning, the second such strike reported in as many days.

The report, cited by Reuters, claimed Israeli rockets hit a military research site on the outskirts of the capital, and smoke could be seen rising from the area. The Jamarya site was the same one reportedly hit by Israeli planes in January............

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Syria says Damascus targeted by fresh Israeli strike | The Times of Israel

WELL, SOMEONE HAS GONADS REGARDING SYRIA: Israeli planes hit targets in Syria, say US officials | The Times of Israel

United States officials suspect Israel struck targets in Syria on either Thursday or Friday, CNN quoted two American sources saying Friday evening.

The sources said Western intelligence agencies were analyzing data pointing to an Israeli airstrike on Syria. The target of the reported airstrike was said to be a weapons facility, according to an American official cited by Fox News. There was no immediate indication that Israel struck chemical weapons targets, despite heightened tensions over the Assad regime’s use of weapons of mass destruction against rebels.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was quoted by a Politico reporter saying, “Israel bombed Syria tonight.”...........

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Israeli planes hit targets in Syria, say US officials | The Times of Israel