In the space of 48 hours, the Assad regime, Iran and Hizballah launched a three-point offensive against foreign intervention, DEBKAfile reports. Here are some facts: The sarin nerve gas atrocity of Wednesday, Aug. 21, alleged to have claimed more than 1,000 lives, was the work of the 155th Brigade of the Syrian army’s 4th Division, headed by President Bashar Asad’s younger brother Gen. Maher Assad.
The poison gas shells were fired from the big Mount Kalmun army base south of Damascus, one of the three repositories of Syria’s chemical weapons. In response to a demand from Moscow last December, Assad collected his chemical assets in three depots. The other two are Dummar, a suburb 5 kilometers outside Damascus, and the Al-Safira air base, west of Aleppo.
Not a single shell or gram of poison gas is loaded for use at any of the three sites without an explicit directive from the president or his brother. Therefore, the clamor raised by the US and French presidents, Western prime ministers and Russian leaders for an independent investigation to turn up evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria and identity of its perpetrator – the Assad regime, says the West, and a rebel provocation, according to Moscow – is nothing but playacting. The facts are known and the evidence is present. And the price for refusing to come down to earth and putting an immediate stop to this horrifying precedent may be unimaginably grim – not just for Israel and Jordan – but for the rest of the Middle East and beyond.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu commented Thursday, Aug. 22 that Iran is using Syria as its testing ground while closely monitoring international responses to its actions.
His remark followed the four Grad rockets fired on northern Israel the day after the chemical attack in East Damascus. His words were scarcely noticed, mainly because Israel’s own spokesmen were busy spreading a blanket of disinformation over the attack, attributing it vaguely to “Global Jihad” (whatever that is).
DEBKAfile’s military sources affirm that, just as the Assad brothers orchestrated the chemical shell attack on Syrian civilians, so too did Hizballah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah set in motion the rocket attack on Israel.
By good fortune, the two which exploded in built-up areas caused damage but no casualties and a third was intercepted by Iron Dome.
Nasrallah had his disposal two Palestinian terrorist groups functioning in Lebanon and Syria under direct Iranian command. They are the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian – General Command (PFLP-GC) and Jihad Islami – both of them eager to attack Israel.
Then, on Friday night, two car bombs blew up outside Sunni mosques in the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli, killing 42 people and injuring 500.
The triple coordinated outrages added up to a dire warning from Tehran and Damascus about what they have in store for the region, and especially Syria’s neighbors, as payback for foreign intervention in the Syrian civil war.
On the subject of intervention, the French daily Le Figaro took the liberty last Thursday, Aug. 23, of lifting wholesale and publishing without credit the exclusive report carried Wednesday, Aug. 21, by DEBKAfile. We were the first publication in the world to reveal on Saturday, Aug. 17 the entry from Jordan into southern Syria of a unit of US-trained Syrian rebel commandoes, under the caption: Reported Syrian gas attack after first US-trained rebel incursion from Jordan.
In that report, DEBKAfile was also the first to expose Assad’s poison gas attack as a warning of the heavy price he would exact for intervention in the Syrian war by foreign forces or by rebels trained by foreign forces – in this case US instructors and officers based in Jordan.
CBS News reported Friday that US and Israel intelligence monitoring known chemical weapons sites detected activity there 20 minutes before the chemical shells were fired Wednesday. Those agencies were therefore on top of valuable advance information, but did nothing to stop – or even warn against – the coming poison gas attack.
Washington and other Western capitals as well as Israel continued to circle around reality Friday and Saturday, when Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel let it be known that US warships had been sent to the region for possible cruise missile attacks, in case the president decided on action against Syria.
The Secretary “forgot” to mention that, had the president really wanted to do something, all he had to do was keep the USS Truman aircraft carrier, which was present in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, the day of the chemical attack, from sailing out through the Suez Canal Thursday.
Furthermore, America doesn’t need to send more warships to the region for possible attacks on Syria. It holds plenty of assets at US air and missile bases crisscrossing the Middle East, southern and central Europe and the Persian Gulf. All are fully capable of conducting a variety of operations against Syria without bringing in extra warships.
Except that none of these assets has so far been ordered into action.
What could the Obama administration do if it was so minded?
DEBKAfile’s exclusive military sources described three options available:
One: Striking the Syrian unit which perpetrated the poison gas last Wednesday east of Damascus.
Two: Destroying the Syrian army’s three chemical weapons depots. Or
Three: Coordinated attacks on the first two targets.
For Options Two and Three, the attack would have to destroy all the poison shells at once before they exploded and leaked contamination across wide regions of Syria and neighboring Turkey, Israel and Jordan. The Syrian ruler is capable of having the shells’ contents mixed and armed ready for use ahead of a US attack, thus maximizing the deadly impact of lethal gases across a broad Middle East region.
Notwithstanding the grave risks of action, the consequences of inaction by the US and Israel would be worse: It would give Damascus and Tehran a green light for escalating their viciousness – and not just against the Syrian people. If the barbarity is not stopped, they will get away with making nerve gas and other poison substances acceptable weapons for fighting their foes. Lebanon and Israel are in extreme jeopardy.
jrob Said:
I more then agree.
@ honeybee:
I’m not towing the US line that Assad is diabolically evil, and thus the US should intervene on his behalf. I’d find it odd that he or others, who don’t have a daily policy of gassing civilians all the sudden wait until they’re under attack from US aided ‘rebels’ to start doing so.
jrob Said:
How?
I figure that the Islamist ‘rebels’ used chemical weapons on their own people. This kind of thing is par for the course for these types. Or does saying so make me un-patriotic?
yamit82 Said:
You thought Obama does!!!!!!!! You and your and the entire of Israel are in my thoughts. Cold comfort, I know.
Assad’s arsenal: 100,000 missiles and rockets
US attack in Syria may lead to regional war that will not pass Israel by. Despite fierce war against rebels, Assad army continues to arm itself with Russian weapons. What is the Syrian army preparing for the IDF? And how will Israel’s initial blow look like?
Syria to allow UN inspect ‘chemical weapon’ attack site
The Syrian government has agreed to allow UN inspectors to investigate allegations of a suspected chemical weapon attack near Damascus.
Western-Mid East military action prepared for Syria. Israel, Jordan, Turkey face up to Syrian counter-attack. Russia on war alert
DEBKAfile Special Report August 25, 2013, 7:12 AM (IDT)
http://www.debka.com/article/23220/Western-Mid-East-military-action-prepared-for-Syria-Israel-Jordan-Turkey-face-up-to-Syrian-counter-attack-Russia-on-war-alert
“They Don’t Care About Syria, They Won’t Care About Us”
Rabbi Avihai Ronsky, former IDF Chief Rabbi, says world inaction over Syria could be a harbinger of things to come for Israel.
Diplomat: Russia plans to raise navy presence in Syria
‘Our Navy presence in the Mediterranean will increase; Russian vessels will be visiting Syria and other friendly ports more frequently,’ Russian charge d’affaires tells reporters in Damascus. Syrian diplomat: We do not want to jeopardize ongoing peace talks with Israel
Israeli military superiority
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-tv-chemical-weapons-were-fired-by-assads-brothers-unit/
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday about the recent chemical weapons attack in Syria as he addressed his ministers at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting. INN
“This situation cannot continue. The most dangerous regimes on earth must not have the most dangerous weapons on earth, and we expect this to end,” he declared.
“What happened in Syria is a crime and a terrible tragedy,” he continued. “Our hearts are with the women, children and babies who were so cruelly hurt by weapons of mass destruction.”
Netanyahu also spoke of Israel’s current position. Terrorist groups have targeted Israel with rocket fire on the Golan and on the northern Galilee, in an apparent attempt to drag the Jewish state into the conflict.
“Our hand is on the pulse. It will act responsibly – but if it becomes necessary, we also have a finger on the trigger,” he warned.
“We know how to protect our citizens and our country from those who seek to hurt us,” he said.
Earlier Sunday, Minister of Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz predicted that the United States will have no choice but to intervene in Syria’s civil war following the chemical attack, which initial reports indicate was approved by sources high in the Assad regime.
Over the weekend the IDF reported that it is planning to station a new, more advanced warship on Israel’s naval border with Lebanon.
Israelis Flock to Gas Mask Distribution Stations
Requests for gas and chemical mask kits have quadrupled in the wake of increasing tensions in Syria
IDF Boosts Navy near Lebanon
Bombings, rocket attack followed by news that IDF will station a new, advanced warship on Israel’s northern border.
Israel said expecting US military response in Syria
Damascus warns ‘mass of flames will ignite Middle East’ if regime attacked; Assad’s chemical weapons use reportedly discussed in call between US and Israeli army chiefs
Israel TV: Chemical weapons were fired by Assad’s brother’s unit
Maher Assad’s 4th Armored Division of Syrian Army launched nerve gas shells that killed hundreds last Wednesday from base west of Damascus, report says
US official says ‘very little doubt’ Assad behind chemical attack
Meanwhile, French president says ‘body of evidence’ backs up gas claims, pope ‘disturbed by ‘terrible images’ from Syria
US official says ‘very little doubt’ Assad behind chemical attack
Meanwhile, French president says ‘body of evidence’ backs up gas claims, pope ‘disturbed by ‘terrible images’ from Syria
Israel TV: Chemical weapons were fired by Assad’s brother’s unit
Maher Assad’s 4th Armored Division of Syrian Army launched nerve gas shells that killed hundreds last Wednesday from base west of Damascus, report says
Israel said expecting US military response in Syria -TOI
Damascus warns ‘mass of flames will ignite Middle East’ if regime attacked; Assad’s chemical weapons use reportedly discussed in call between US and Israeli army chiefs
You Won’t BELIEVE the Upshot of BP’s Gulf Oil Spill
“The alternative media tried to tell you that the chemicals added to the Gulf of Mexico to hide all of the oil were super toxic, and that there was a giant cover-up where BP used the government as a sock puppet. Now it’s gone mainstream … 60 Minutes – Australia tells the tale:”
Gulf Stream Has Stalled, A Consequence Of BP Oil Spill?
George Bush, condi Rice and Hilarous Rotten Clinton all are quoted with the infamously stupid (maybe not) statements threatening Iran with massive American response should they Nuke Israel.
Small comfort for us after we’re all dead.
Lack of Western Response first against Saddam and now reportedly Assad to use of weapons of mass destruction should be ringing alarm bells in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Jews are alone and only the Jews will extricate ourselves and if that means using all the means in our power to preempt then it should be a no-brainer… Problem is, we have BB and his circle of yes men cowards surrounding him… Anyone who disagrees does not last long in their positions.
There is an equally if not even more serious CBN threat that is gettling little to no acknowledgement by Western Governments and it’s this:
TEPCO reports worst radioactive leak from tank at Japan’s Fukushima – See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/tepco-reports-worst-radioactive-leak-from-tank-at-japans-fukushima#sthash.s3fyWDSP.1bThzP05.dpuf
“We think something happened in the ocean”
David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister put it accurately:“Israel is the only nation in the world where miracles are part of national planning.”
“You shall dwell in safety in your land” In your own land, you may dwell in safety, outside your land, there is no safety for you.” The Yalkut on Leviticus 25:18.
The situation throughout the world is becoming more volatile with every passing day. The situation will only get worse, not better. As we get closer to the Redemption the dangers and sufferings will become even more profound and frequent. This phenomena is known in Judaism as “Chevlei Moshiach”:
“If you see a generation upon which numerous disasters pour like a river, expect him (the Moshiach).” Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a.
In fact, the situation is expected to get so difficult that some of the Rabbis of the Talmud expressed their desire to be spared from living in our day:
“Ulla said: ‘Let him (the Moshiach) come but let me not see him.’ Rabba and Rabbi Yochanan said the same.” Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b.