Nuclear? Chemical? Missiles? What Was Hit?
Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
وفي شروح متعددة لمراسلين ومحللين أمنيين في إسرائيل، كان البارز ما قاله محرر الشؤون الامنية والعسكرية في صحيفة «يديعوت أحرونوت» رونين بروغمان، الذي لمّح في سياق كلامه، الى أن الصواريخ السورية المزودة بالرؤوس الكيميائية ليست بعيدة عن متناول الطائرات الاسرائيلية، وأنها موجودة في الشمال السوري. وأضاف بروغمان انه بحسب المعلومات المتوافرة، لم يهتم السوريون بالموضوع النووي لأن «لديهم حلولاً أخرى استراتيجية لما تملكه إسرائيل من سلاح، وهو السلاح الكيميائي»، ولديهم كميات كبيرة منه، وهذه «الاسلحة موجودة في الشمال». ولفت الى أن هناك أماكن يقوم السوريون فيها بإنتاج صواريخ «سكاد ـــــ سي» و«سكاد ـــــ بي»، فضلاً عن أنهم «حصلوا على صواريخ جاهزة من كوريا الشمالية، ثم أخذوا ينتجونها بأنفسهم بمساعدة من الإيرانيين».
Here is the rough content in English: (Ronin Broughman sp. ?), editor of Israel's Yediot Acharonot, indidcated that the strike was against chemical weapons and missile production in the north of Syria – Scud C and B. Nuclear weapons are not a Syrian concern because they have chemical weapons with which to respond to Israel. Even though they have received ready made scuds from Korea, Syria has begun production of its own with the help of Iran.
This is Ynet's story: Report: Israel spots nuclear installations in Syria 09/12/2007
Washington official says Israeli surveillance shows possible Syrian nuclear installation stocked by North Korea, Israeli Arab newspaper claims target of alleged raid last week was Syrian missile base financed by Iran.
Meanwhile on Wednesday the Nazareth-based Israeli Arab newspaper The Assennara cited anonymous Israeli sources as saying that Israeli jets "bombed a Syrian-Iranian missile base in northern Syria that was financed by Iran… It appears that the base was completely destroyed."
Syria has formally complained to UN. (AFP)
Although Syria lodged a formal complaint, it did not propose a resolution to censure Israel. It left it up to others to do it. On this I.C. comments:
The syrians have complained to the UNSC but have not requested any action against Israel. Here is the article though its in arabic:
Syria has always preferred to force the Americans to veto than to let it slide. At least that way the bias to Israel would be reinforced in the public’s eye ( a symbolic, though futile victory). I would have expected them to resort to the UNSC for action especially in the case of a blatant and unprovoked breach as Damascus claims. It’s this reservation that makes me wonder.
Soloman adds a legal perspective:
Under UNSC 1701 clause 15, states may use their flag ships and aircraft to interdict weapons shipments to Hezbollah, even if it isn’t on their territory.
No state needs permission from Lebanon or Israel to do this because clause 15 is specifically worded to supersede Chapter 6 restrictions (”Decides further -”). No consent from a third-party state like Syria appears to be required under the resolution for a strike on its territory for this purpose.
The firm order to keep everyone’s mouth shut on this even after it took place seems to have come from the US to its allies in the region. The synchronized silence by Saudi, Jordan, the gulf and Egypt and the fact that they did not utter a word of condemnation, solidarity, regret or even concern is indicative, but the most alerting issue here is the absolute silence of Saudi financed media in the region (ie. the majority of the Arab media). Take for example, Alarabiya, Al-Sharq Alawsat and even Future TV. Usually, these media outlets are the first to jump on any incident related to Syria and spin it in a way that Syria appears the guilty side. When it comes to incidents relates to Syria and Israel, these outlets tend to host an influx of analysts and talk shows gloating on how Syria is week and too close to Iran. This time, not a word!
Given the coordinated Israeli-American-Saudi media black out, I’m reading this as a joint attempt to hide something that can be perceived by the Arab public as a failure on the US and moderate Arab side and might strengthen the Syrian (or Iranian) image. It can also be something that can cause an embarrassment to Arab “moderates”.
The tip given to me four days ago that North Korean technology was the object of the strike has made it to the main-stream press. The debate now seems to center on what was hit – production facilities for missiles, chemicals, or something nuclear.
U.S. Confirms Israeli Strikes Hit Syrian Target Last Week
New York Times By MARK MAZZETTI and HELENE COOPER
ANALYSIS: The air strike in Syria is a secret that cannot be kept, Haaretz by By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff
Reuters writes:
Amal Saad-Ghorayeb writes in an email, "I got this quote from the lead story in Al-Akhbar but couldn't find the original quote on YNet news.