Israel launches airstrikes within Syria

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**Ouze**

US officials: Israelis launch airstrikes into Syria
By Jim Miklaszewski and Andrea Mitchell, NBC News

Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes against targets inside Syria on Friday, U.S. officials told NBC News.

It’s believed the primary target was a shipment of weapons headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon, they said. A senior U.S. official said the airstrikes were believed to be related to delivery systems for chemical weapons.

An Israeli spokesman in Washington said that Israel would not comment specifically on the reports but said that “Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, especially to Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

It wasn’t clear whether the Israelis alerted the U.S. before the attack. White House officials referred all questions to the Israelis.

This would be the second time this year Israel conducted airstrikes inside Syria. In January, Israeli fighter jets attacked a convoy of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles believed on their way to Hezbollah.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon publicly acknowledged the January airstrike inside Syria in a joint press conference with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Tel Aviv on April 22. Ya’alon said any Syrian delivery of sophisticated weapons to rogue elements like Hezbollah would be a “red line” for Israel and “when they crossed this red line, we operated. We acted.”

Syria is in the middle of a civil war pitting rebels against the regime of President Bashir Assad. Tens of thousands have already died, and the possible use of the nation’s stockpile of chemical weapons has been of grave concern to the U.S. and other nations.

Last week, the White House said there was evidence that Syria’s government may have used chemical weapons against its own people. But President Barack Obama has cautioned against rushing to action against Assad’s government, saying that the U.S. required more evidence before getting involved in the civil war there.

The U.S. has long believed that Syria was stockpiling chemical weapons. Intelligence reports indicate that it has sarin and the nerve agent tabun along with traditional chemicals like mustard gas and hydrogen cyanide. A 2011 CIA report said Syria was also developing the potent nerve agent VX, which could render a city uninhabitable for days.

Syria has said that it hasn’t used and will not use chemical weapons.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah’s leader warned the rebels that his militia was ready to intervene on Assad’s side in Syria’s civil war. There have been concerns that Syrian SCUD missiles that might be capable of carrying chemical weapons could be transferred to Hezbollah.

NBC News Senior Investigative Producer Robert Windrem and White House Correspondent Kristen Welker contributed to this report.

**Doctadeth**

Warranted. Chemical weaponry is hard to counter once it's been used within a civilian populace.

Even if Israel acted outside it's borders, What's all the fuss about? Its acting in a warzone to events which may influence assaults by Hezbollah. If SCUDs are deployed in Hezbollah, that could also affect numerous nations within the middle east.

**djones520**

Good for Israel.

**Albatross**

I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

**Valkyrie**

I'm still a bit confused about this whole Israel fiasco, even after looking it up online. What are they actually fighting over this time?

**djones520**

Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

**SlaveToDorkness**

Glad to see someone has the balls to actually DO something in Syria.

Our Savior's "Red Line" is getting pinker by the hour!

**Albatross**

djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion. They may have set in motion a chain of events that could get huge numbers of people, some of them Americans and Brits, killed. What happens if Syria and it's ally Iran retaliate?

**djones520**

Albatross wrote:
djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion. They may have set in motion a chain of events that could get huge numbers of people, some of them Americans and Brits, killed. What happens if Syria and it's ally Iran retaliate?

I'm not going to bother with this, because it seems you've got the hate-israel-itus, and it will be a waste of my time.

But given your line of thinking, you must be glad we lost an aircraft and it's 3 crew members yesterday. I mean if the US hadn't been warmongering, Britain never would have been drawn into Afghanistan.

Welcome to my ignore list, you get the distinction of being the first person on it.

**Doctadeth**

And Hezbollah aren't warmongers? They ARE a terrorist organization. Syria will not retaliate, not with a civil war already engaging the majority of it's military. I would love to see the Iron shield defense system engage a scud missile though.

Israel are getting things done and eliminating threats to their peace, the same as the USA are doing/have done in the past with forces like the Taliban and Al-Queda. Sadly they made the mistake of overextending to iraq.

**Orlanth**

So it comes down to the tired old argument that any who criticise Israeli aggression are anti-Semitic and have lost all credibility.

Fortunately this argument is itself losing credibility, the ideal that those who criticise Israel are bigots who need not have their bigotry addressed doesnt wash anymore.

There was a time when Israel could bomb whoever they pleased, it would always be painted as just retaliation, and for lasting 'peace'. The media is not so one sided anymore, and Israels own crimes raise such a stench that they lost any claim to moral high ground.

Now when Israel bombs a neighbouring country without warning, its seen like if anyone else does it. The day they end decades of oppression of the Palestinian people and half the stealing of land is the day they can talk about the excesses of others.

Notice that part of the armaments Hezbollah were allegedly receiving were anti aircraft missiles. I wonder why they would need those?

**AlmightyWalrus**

As someone who's generally on the Palestinian's side of the conflict, I've got to say that I'm with Israel on this one. Having chemical weapons drifting around and potentially falling into terrorist hands isn't in anyone's interest except the terrorists.

**Grey Templar**

Israel needs to be proactive in defending themselves. They can't wait for their enemies to directly attack them, otherwise they would be destroyed.

They would gladly live in peace, but none of their neighbors will let them. Thus have been given no choice but to be very aggressive in destroying potential threats to their security.

The terrorists that continuously Israel have no credibility. Not when they indiscriminately launch rockets at civilian targets while hiding behind women and children.

**ExNoctemNacimur**

Albatross wrote:
djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion. They may have set in motion a chain of events that could get huge numbers of people, some of them Americans and Brits, killed. What happens if Syria and it's ally Iran retaliate?

Respect.

Israel seem to enjoy pushing the Palestinians more and more, and trying to see what they get.

In this case, I bet you there's an ulterior motive.

**djones520**

Anti-semite? Why don't you go back and find me a reference to Jews. There isn't any so cut that crap out.

**ExNoctemNacimur**

Was that directed at me?

**Ketara**

Albatross wrote:
Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion.

Orlanth wrote:So it comes down to the tired old argument that any who criticise Israeli aggression are anti-Semitic and have lost all credibility.

Seriously guys?

Albatross, I expected better of you than actively wishing death upon people in a situation like that. I'm pretty certain if you saw someone wishing death on Mattyrm and his entire unit when they were on patrol in Afghanistan because 'Britain are warmongers!', you'd have something to say about it pretty sharpish.

Orlanth, nobody mentioned anti-semitism. The fact that you inserted the counter to an argument that nobody had made just shows you to be projecting strawmen that you wish to argue with. If anything, it shows you to be virulently anti-Israel regardless of the thread or topic at hand, because it shows that without even having read people's responses, you're busy imagining up reasons as to why you can ignore people who might disagree with you.

**Albatross**

djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion. They may have set in motion a chain of events that could get huge numbers of people, some of them Americans and Brits, killed. What happens if Syria and it's ally Iran retaliate?

I'm not going to bother with this, because it seems you've got the hate-israel-itus, and it will be a waste of my time.

But given your line of thinking, you must be glad we lost an aircraft and it's 3 crew members yesterday. I mean if the US hadn't been warmongering, Britain never would have been drawn into Afghanistan.

Welcome to my ignore list, you get the distinction of being the first person on it.

Fine, put me on ignore, it doesn't bother me one iota, but do it for something I actually said, as opposed to something you think I said. Don't let your poor reading comprehension spoil our friendship!

Israel just unilaterally attacked, without any prior warning, a Muslim country that is in the grip of a bloody civil war in which thousands of civilians are being murdered, and which is backed by some of Israel's sworn enemies. It's like they're trying to start a major war in the middle east.

So feth 'em. They deserve everything they get on the back of this. We owe Israel nothing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Doctadeth wrote:
And Hezbollah aren't warmongers? They ARE a terrorist organization.

It doesn't follow that just because I oppose Israel, I support Hezbollah and think they're groovy.

Hezbollah are not groovy. Doesn't make Israel any less of a rogue state.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Ketara wrote:

Albatross, I expected better of you than actively wishing death upon people in a situation like that.

OK, you can cut the condescending 'concerned dad' act out right the feth now. You are not my elder or my better. I would be perfectly entitled to view an unsuccessful (and illegal) Israeli airstrike with a certain amused detachment, given the IDF's behaviour in the past. It would serve them right for thinking they can bomb whoever they please with impunity.

I'm pretty certain if you saw someone wishing death on Mattyrm and his entire unit when they were on patrol in Afghanistan because 'Britain are warmongers!', you'd have something to say about it pretty sharpish.

Yep, I 'd sharply say that they were entitled to their opinion, but that I didn't share it. And I didn't wish death on anyone, I just said that I'd be amused, because, y'know, context.

**Ketara**

Albatross wrote:

OK, you can cut the condescending 'concerned dad' act out right the feth now. You are not my elder or my better. I would be perfectly entitled to view an unsuccessful (and illegal) Israeli airstrike with a certain amused detachment, given the IDF's behaviour in the past. It would serve them right for thinking they can bomb whoever they please with impunity.

It's nothing to do with condescension I can assure you. More the disappointment from one respecting adult to another when the other suddenly comes out with something crass and distasteful. You're generally pretty level-headed about most things, and I respect you and what you write on here as a result of that.

But when you seem to revel in amusement at the thought of the deaths of servicemen of any nation, and then dismiss it with a handwave and 'context', well.... Whilst you are of course free to hold that opinion, I believe I likewise, am fully entitled to state that I thought better of you from what I've come to expect from your posts.

Handwave that away also if you like, I am just some random fellow on the internet. But if you've ever had any respect for my style of posting, you might want to consider why I might have said what I just did.

Then again, if you haven't, carry on.

**purplefood**

Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...

**Mr Hyena**

Does nobody notice that Isreal is the only country who isn't a huge coward and is actually doing something about the Syrian problem?

Albatross wrote:
djones520 wrote:
Albatross wrote:
I personally would have been rather amused if one or more of the Israeli jets had been shot down. Assad regime or rebels, I'm not fussed.

Seriously dude?

That's pretty effin sick.

Not everyone loves Israel. They are arrogant warmongers and deserve every thing they get, in my opinion. They may have set in motion a chain of events that could get huge numbers of people, some of them Americans and Brits, killed. What happens if Syria and it's ally Iran retaliate?

And the alternative, letting chemical weapons be used against isreal is better?

Besides, the UK isn't a peaceful, innocent nation either.

So feth 'em. They deserve everything they get on the back of this. We owe Israel nothing.

'You' never did nothing. English soldiers never did a thing for Isreal as it stands anyway. The lot of cowards 'You' were.

US Soldiers are the only ones to have a legitimate claim to a comment like that.

**AlexHolker**

Albatross wrote:
Israel just unilaterally attacked, without any prior warning, a Muslim country that is in the grip of a bloody civil war in which thousands of civilians are being murdered, and which is backed by some of Israel's sworn enemies. It's like they're trying to start a major war in the middle east.

Uh huh. Syria bombs Turkey and Lebanon, uses chemical weapons against its own civilians and commits crimes against humanity, and Israel is the one trying to start a fight.

**Melissia**

purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...

The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

**Mr Hyena**

Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Someone should teach that to Palestinians with rockets and those who strap bombs to children.

**ExNoctemNacimur**

Mr Hyena wrote:
Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Someone should teach that to Palestinians with rockets and those who strap bombs to children.

Palestinian casualties during the war have been a lot higher than those of the Israelis.

Thought that may be useful to know.

**Mr Hyena**

ExNoctemNacimur wrote:
Mr Hyena wrote:
Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Someone should teach that to Palestinians with rockets and those who strap bombs to children.

Palestinian casualties during the war have been a lot higher than those of the Israelis.

Thought that may be useful to know.

Doesn't really excuse the aforementioned actions now does it?

**KalashnikovMarine**

I seem to recall a state of war already existing between Israel and Syria prior to this point, the Israelis have just been content to hold their borders and wait till now.

**AlmightyWalrus**

Mr Hyena wrote:
ExNoctemNacimur wrote:
Mr Hyena wrote:
Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Someone should teach that to Palestinians with rockets and those who strap bombs to children.

Palestinian casualties during the war have been a lot higher than those of the Israelis.

Thought that may be useful to know.

Doesn't really excuse the aforementioned actions now does it?

The onus is generally on the stronger part to show restraint, because otherwise it's awfully close to bullying. The idiots who plan and perform suicide attacks aren't representative of the Palestinian people as a whole, whereas the IDF is effectively the state of Israel performing the actions. It obviously doesn't mean that Hizbollah or Hamas are the best guys ever, but as has been pointed out the casualty rate is staggeringly different.

**Mr Hyena**

AlmightyWalrus wrote:
Mr Hyena wrote:
ExNoctemNacimur wrote:
Mr Hyena wrote:
Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Someone should teach that to Palestinians with rockets and those who strap bombs to children.

Palestinian casualties during the war have been a lot higher than those of the Israelis.

Thought that may be useful to know.

Doesn't really excuse the aforementioned actions now does it?

The onus is generally on the stronger part to show restraint, because otherwise it's awfully close to bullying. The idiots who plan and perform suicide attacks aren't representative of the Palestinian people as a whole, whereas the IDF is effectively the state of Israel performing the actions. It obviously doesn't mean that Hizbollah or Hamas are the best guys ever, but as has been pointed out the casualty rate is staggeringly different.

War tends to do that. No sane country would show restraint with the ridiculous number of rocket barrages and suicide bombers coming out of Palestine.

**purplefood**

Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:
Well at least they seem to be learning a bit of restraint...
The Israeli military learning restraint? That's new. They have a reputation for a lack thereof...

Yes, I disagree with their general lack of restraint but in this case they don't seem to have vaporised several dozen civilians... or they did it more thoroughly this time...
As it is Israel has the right to defend themselves but proportional response doesn't seem to be in their dictionary.