Israel bombs Syrian targets (mixed reports)

Originally posted by EZ14U2C
How big is this?
Could it lead to a war between both countries?
Would we then get involved and, not sure if Syria and Iran are allies but I am going to guess they are, then Iran gets involved and we have an all out war?

So many questions..

How big is the problem?

Well it could lead to another war, with Lebanon Syrians proxy state, out of the picture Israel can be assured no damage from their north. Palestine is still reletively calm compared to last year of course, and thus no major threat there. Now all Israel has to worry about is Syria, and they apparently have a few issues left for Iran and their nuclear ambitions.

For years the golan Heights has acted as a bumper between the two states, and the only real contact has been through Syria's proxy Lebanon. If either nation militarizes Golan, or Syria takes it back, it would no doubt lead to war.

As far as Syria and Iran being allies, yes this is a fact. Not so much ally but military pact, which was signed by both leaders and says basically.. war with one is a war on both nations. Recently Russia has deliviered weaponry and defense systems to Syria, as well as calling for more weaponry trade with Iran.. which can give an indication to arising tensions and possibly a war sometime soon .. right before the Iraq war, Russia sent hundreds of night vision goggles (through American companies no less) to Iraqi troops because they knew we would come in at night.

Of course, this could just be a game of whos d*** is bigger, if you know what I mean. Saber rattling.

I read on another site that the IDF dropped their external fuel tanks when they were fired upon by the Syrians.

This could be what the report is about of bombing but I don't remember what site I read that little snippet on.

That was when Syria was reporting that the fired on IDF planes. Now, they are reporting that the IDF bombed them.

Here's what the BBC is saying:

"Syria has said its air defences opened fire on Israeli warplanes after they violated its airspace in the north of the country.
Syrian officials said the defences forced the jets to drop ammunition over deserted areas and turn back, according to the official news agency, Sana.

Israel's military said it would not comment on the reports."

news.bbc.co.uk...

well i guess thats the way to get ats points. i didnt know i could respond to my own threads and just add another source, or a one line comment. ussually just edit my first comment. thanx for showing me the way. 4 other replies from other people, and 6 flags. trip out.

The Israeli side has a black out on this story.

We'll have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks, this could heat up.

Syria is refusing to drop this issue, still ranting.

Hmmm..interesting news from Israel



www.jpost.com...

What is Israel hiding or trying to cover up?

[edit on 6-9-2007 by infinite]

reply to post by infinite


Olmert & Co. ignoring Syria is probably more provocative to the Syrian government than verbal sparring.

The Syrian government has a complex about not being taken seriously, and I am certain the Israelis are well aware of the power of ignoring them.

But it is in Israel's best interest to deny that anything happened. "Denial" has been a popular element in world governance for some time whether it is Bill Clinton or E. Olmert.

So Israeli jets dropped "ammo." Ammo-bullets or ammo-missiles? If missiles, what was the capability other then the plainly obvious?

The truth is in the ammo drop.

Believe the first hectic reports before the info-blackout began. Then look for pieces that fit into that now blacked out puzzle.

Could this have been a failed raid? If so, who were they planning to raid? Syria? Or Iran?

The truth lies in the possible fuel tank dump. Did it happen? If so, did they drop enough fuel to fly round trip to Iran? Or even enough for a one way trip to Iran (with a possible refueling over the "friendly" skies of Iraq).

Of course, enough fuel for a one way trip to Iran would be enough fuel for a round trip to Syria so that part gets complicated. But if they dumped enough fuel for a round trip to Iran, it ain't complicated at all to understand what happened!

Maybe they were trying to soften targets in Syria for a future-fly over to Iran.

Maybe this; maybe that.

Just wondering out loud. (Well, sort of out loud.)

Originally posted by Wildbob77
I read on another site that the IDF dropped their external fuel tanks when they were fired upon by the Syrians.

This could be what the report is about of bombing but I don't remember what site I read that little snippet on.

That was when Syria was reporting that the fired on IDF planes. Now, they are reporting that the IDF bombed them.

Yeah that's what I first thought when i heard the news report. Sounds to me like the Israeli jets were on a fishing expedition to either take photographs of Syrian military positions or provoke them into revealing their positions by firing missles at the jets. Either way I'm sure the Israelis learned whatever it was they were there to find out. When they got fired on they droppped their tanks, fired off some chaff and hauled butt outta there.

We were talking about this a month or two ago in another thread. I believe Justin Oldham said this was going to happen. It's only a matter of time before Syria and Israel go to war.

The latest report I read in debka indicated that it was a recon flight that dropped their external fuel tanks (NOT bombs) in an uninhabited area when fired upon to facilitate escape.

IMO the IDF was just probing the Syrian defenses I'm sure that both sides would do such a thing on a regular bases with bombs being dropped or war breaking out. But thats just my 10 cents.

Your Topic Title is very misleading.

I have been following this story since it was realsed, and I havent seen any reports that Israel 'bombed' Syria.

after the Israeli planes dropped munitions, without causing human or material loss

www.news.com.au...

All media reports quoted some 'unnamed official' that 'Israel dropped munition'. This is far from a bombing, and could be interpurted as many things, from dropping a pamphlet to firing off a cannon.

Apparently these "munitions" were also dropped in a un-inhabited desert region. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

A Syrian minister admitted to Al-Jazeera's English-language channel that it remained unclear whether the Israeli aircraft had actually carried out an attack.

www.news.com.au...

Sounds to me like they entered Syria's airspace, then left without incident.

I smell a test run ...

Things are obviously heating up in the region and Israel could be running some tests of sorts.
A good way to find out how fast the enemy got wind of the air space crossing is vital.

I'm sure it was no accident.

Basically, it was a moist run. Testing airspace, seeing what type of guard Syria has. Dropping the tanks was just like saying 'next time it will be bombs' - Very cunning but uncalled for.

[edit on 7-9-2007 by arclore]

I feel this is a test run...

It's interesting to see what will happen now. Syria is spitting blood over this, Israel are refusing to mention anything.

Story goes that the Syrians and Iranians have acquired from their good Russian friends a large shipment of Pantsyr-S1 Air Defense Systems. These are supposedly integrated AA guns/Missile systems that can engage multiple air targets. Its missiles are supposedly unjammable!

Well Israel seemed to have jammed the missiles and/or found a way to significantly decrease their effectivity.

This step pulls-off the Iranian/Syrian security blanket and exposes them to an Israeli/American attack if they decide to get to cocky.
Moreover, this will also lessen Syrian aggression through their proxies (Hamas, Jihad, Hezbullah) and also probably delay their planned attacks in the Golan to 'free the Golan' from 'Occupation'.

Syria and Iran are full of blustering candy ass loud mouths. They will bitch and moan over this "incident" but at the end of the day they wont do anything because they dont want none. Bottom line.

Israel routinely fly’s into Syrian air space when they patrol over Lebanon. I agree with other posters that this was a fact finding mission. Israel may be testing the defenses but they have to know that any aggression towards Syria will for sure bring in the Iranians, Egyptians and every Arab with a rock into this conflict. Also from experience with military aircraft, it is standard procedure to drop tanks and chaff and unass the AO when fired upon in this scenario. I would venture to guess that Syria will use this as a tool to drum up international support against Israel. Trust me the only thing keeping the Arab countries from going to war with Israel in force, is Israel’s willingness to use nukes if need be to defend themselves. Think about Masada for a minute. Does anyone really believe Israel can stop a combined Arab force from destroying Israel? With conventional weapons!!!



PS : Also it helps to have the US war machine on your side to!!!

Keep an eye on this one for sure. Syria is acting like it won’t stop until a war is started. They are still pissed about Lebanon and they are pissed the US is ignoring them with the peace conference coming up you can be sure. Here is a MSNBC article and ill quote from it.

"But Syria fears it is being squeezed out of a U.S.-brokered Mideast peace conference planned for November and will be left at a disadvantage in the standoff with Israel."


www.msnbc.msn.com...

Israel has entered Syrian airspace too many time without consequence. They buzzed the home of Syria's president last year remember? Anti-Aircraft fire "chased them away" that time.

This seems to happen quite often. I dont look at it as sable rattling, but more like a couple of rivals who meet each other in the street and routinely play "slapbox". Then they walk away.

It will not be war until Israel loses a jet, although everytime they enter the airspace uninvited it is grounds for war in itself. Syria just does not see the need if the jets did not destroy anything, and Israel does not care as long as the jet did not take damage.

My comment, just another day between the two.