Published: July 29, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - Syria Shoots Down Israeli Drone to Protect Weapons Convoy
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - TEHRAN WATCH - Middle East Theatre: Damascus - Beirut - Tehran/Jerusalem; Syrian Air Defenses Shoot Down Israeli Surveillance Drone Over Lebanese Territory - Preparation for Syrian Weapons Convoy
Night Watch: DAMASCUS - Syria indicated more intentions of becoming directly involved against Israel when its air defenses shot down an Israeli surveillance drone over Lebanese territory. Debka reported the spy drone crashed into the slopes of Jebel Barukh. The drones are used to "paint" - monitor Syrian weapons convoys to Hezbollah and this incident seems to have been in preparation for another such convoy and prevent Israel's air force from intercepting it. [
DEBKA]
Israel is refraining from attacking Syrian bases inside the country which are actively involved in supporting Hezbollah knowing that in doing so Damascus would retaliate by launching Scud missiles. Plus an attack on Syria would bring Iran into the war something Tehran has been planning with Hamas - Hezbollah just being the opening moves. Despite the reluctance Israel's military command knows they may have no other choice since they have to cutoff as many Hezbollah supply shipments as possible in order to secure their country and its population.
The war will be decided sooner when Israel responds by attacking Syria. It would force Damascus - Tehran to get involved with whatever they had decided to commit. A longer limited war will be more costly and with no real end in sight. A quicker decision will prevent Israel-Lebanon from becoming another Iraq-Afghanistan. A longer war is definitely preferable to Tehran whose government thrives on crises and destruction which enables them to generate more hatred throughout the region. This is Tehran's modus operandi - its raison d'etre and has been since Khomeini - 1979. They increase their influence by causing war. The use of terrorism was just part of the preparation and was a parallel to their industrial preparations which now seem to be complete.
Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com
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