At least nine people were killed Tuesday in Israeli attacks on a Syrian military base near the historic city of Palmyra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death toll, saying six of the slain were “not Syrian,” but were believed to be Lebanese.
Israeli attacks in Syria are common enough, and often target foreign Shi’ites, who irrespective of their country of origin will be labeled “Iranian” by Israeli officials. The Syrian government confirmed the attack, saying they’d intercepted several Israeli missiles.
Palmyra is not a major site of combat lately, so it’s not clear why Israel would attack it in the first place. Palmyra is an important historical site, and after years of complaining of damage ISIS might do there, its likely there will be a backlash if Israel damages anything as well.
The only Palmyra news recently was that US-backed rebels who are abandoning the rebel militias are heading to Palmyra to join up with Syrian forces. That is unlikely to be directly related, however, since the US did not make a big deal about this, and Israel is generally more interested in killing foreigners than Syrian rebels.
Perhaps Syria should change it name to Sitting Duck. No national pride.
What can they do against the U.S. and her thermonuclear spoiled child Isreal?
They have no choice but to take the abuse. When Syria can produce some, any, real deterrence (unlikely)the problem will end. Probably with Israel too. Everywhere they go, it’s the same story. Being the chosen sounds great, but before you or your people are selected, find out for what duty you are being chosen and how it’s working out for them over the millennia. It’s quite a list!!!!!
Jews believe that they were chosen to get the Torah & to be a light unto the nations.
In 2002, Palestinian terrorists were coming out of Jenin & murdering innocent Israelis. Israel could have killed the terrorists in Jenin by bombing. Bombing would have been safe for the Israeli pilots, but would have killed innocent Palestinians civilians. So Israel sent in ground troops.
The Jenin refugee camp, the operational center of the Palestinian terror network and “the martyrs’ capital” according to the Palestinians themselves, was a major objective of the operation. Israeli soldiers entered the camp on April 1, 2002, to engage in close combat with Palestinian fighters. As news emerged of the fierce battle, Palestinian officials immediately claimed that Israel had committed a “massacre” in Jenin. Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat alleged during an interview with CNN on April 10, 2002, that Israeli forces had killed “more than five hundred people.” In a subsequent broadcast on April 12, he added that three hundred Palestinians had been buried in mass graves. Palestinian Authority Secretary Ahmed Abdel Rahman spoke of Israeli body-snatching and likened the battle to“genocide.” Relying in large part on NGO officials from HRW and in particular,Amnesty International, the mainstream press began to echo these allegations, accusing Israel of committing “war crimes” and of carrying out a “massacre.” Citing the preliminary findings of an Amnesty International adviser, the BBC reported that there was evidence of “a massacre by Israeli forces.”10 The reality was very different. Israeli, Palestinian, and even UN officials would ultimately confirm that fifty-two Palestinians had died in Jenin, almost all of them combatants.Twenty-three Israeli soldiers were also killed. The unusually low civilian death toll for a battle in a densely populated urban area was the result of Israeli ground forces engaging in highly perilous house-to-house combat, exposing soldiers to ambush and booby traps, while the use of air power or artillery was avoided.
thought there was nothing historical left in palmyra to damage. seem to recall isis leveled every statue or monument there. was that fake news or is this.
ISIS did damage many historic sites but not all. The first thing ISIS did is to behead an 88 old Director of Antiquities.
Israel does not need a reason to be Israel. At present, it is fulfilling US role by being an impediment to peace. Really, as if killing Shiites is any more valid reason then killing Lebanese Sunni, or a Palestinian Christian.
Syria, Russia, Turkey and Iran — all involved in gradual consolidation of Syrian territory. Idlib militants must take a predictable path from being loyal to Western funded HTS and Helmets, to accepting Turkey’s command. When that happens, HTS will have to evacuated to the destination of its masters choice.
Kurdish territories in the Northeast and along borders with Turkey are already under Syrian government control with Russian police, and 10 mile border belt is patrolled jointly between Turkey and Russia. Once Syria liberated M-5 highway, and Turkey and Russia patrolling M-4 that cuts through Idlib — not much is left for Western outfit to do. Their attempt at playing Russian card and rile up population to organize blockade for patrols was squashed when Turkey demolished camps.
US presence at Al-Tanf on Jordanian border or at oil fields — is worthless.
Once Idlib militants are under Turkish control — and major highways back into government hands — Syria will not need Geneva conference for EU or US to sort out peace. At that point it can be settled in Astana format anywhere.
Israel can play this card up until the Constitutional committee setting out new constitution and elections.
As I think Assad intends only to see through the transition but not run fir president, there are plenty of competent leaders this war created. The new and legitimate government will be in a different position, and the region will turn in Israel. From Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria — there will be no room for Israel to exploit.
But they will try. Try to occupy Lebanon for the umpteen time. Israel is at present annoyance nobody wants to deal with.
Syria attacked Israel in 1948, 1967 & 1973, yet you are blaming Israel for the absence of peace. Why?
because syria attacked to expel foreign invaders and colonists… lol that’s like saying “why did you stab your rapist 3 times? why are you blaming him for the violence?”. and to correct your misleading remarks, Syria intervened in the Nakba war of 48, when the Jewish militias and terrorist groups were committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in a neighboring state. Israel attacked in 67 and occupied syrian territory. and in 73 syria attempted to retake that territory (Golan heights). Egypt took back the Sinai in that same war, (or atleast as a result of that war and subsequent peace treaty) Israel is and always has been the aggressor. And because of everything else he said in his comment lol.