Israeli Arrow II ready for Syrian missiles. US Patriots for Jordan. Moscow backs Hizballah
Israeli Arrow II ready for Syrian missiles. US Patriots for Jordan. Moscow backs Hizballah.
( As hairy as it gets… From Israel, on a knife’s edge. – JW )
“Syrian batteries are in a high state of operability, ready to fire at short notice,” said Israel Air Force Colonel Zvika Haimovich in special briefings to international media Friday. He disclosed that Israel tracks every missile fired in the Syrian civil war, since southward launches would give Israel mere seconds to determine it was not the true target. “All it would take is a few degrees’ change in the flight path to endanger us.”
Speaking at the Palmachim air and missile base south of Tel Aviv, Col. Haimovich explained that long-range radars feed real-time data on the barrages to the base command where officers are braced to activate Arrow II. The more threatening launches set off sirens in Palmachim. Warplanes there are also on standby to scramble.
“We are looking at all aspects, from the performance of weaponry to the way the Syrians use it,” said the Israeli air force officer. “They have used everything that I am aware exists in their missile and rocket arsenal [against Syrian rebel forces]. They are improving all the time, and so are we… but we need to study and be prepared.”
Another Israeli expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a combination of split-second analysis of the strength of the launch with up-to-date intelligence on Bashar Assad’s intentions. He said Israel had beefed up its deployment to more than four nationwide batteries, to allow for repeated interception of any incoming missile. The intention is “to ensure that we have at least two opportunities to intercept. We have not yet been called into action on the northern front, but I believe that we will be,” said this officer.
In Washington, Pentagon sources reported that the United States was sending Patriot missile defense systems and F-16 fighter jets to Jordan for the annual joint Eager Lion exercise between the two armies. The sources did not say whether the Patriots and fighter jets would withdraw after the two-month exercise. The US officials pointed out that the Patriots would not shield Jordan from Syrian Scuds, but were a demonstration of US support for the Hashemite kingdom.
At the same time, debkafile’s military sources report a high degree of operational coordination between the US Patriot deployments in Jordan and Turkey and the Israeli Arrow 2 preparedness for a potential missile attack which could come from Iran, Syria, Lebanon or the Gaza Strip.
Another component of this missile shield is the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System aboard US warships in the Mediterranean.
Moscow, for its part, continues to sow confusion about the delivery of its S-300 anti-air missile batteries to Syria, but has shown its hand on another issue, by blocking a UN Security Council motion that would have condemned Hizballah. Tabled under the heading of “a declaration of alarm over Qusayr” the Council was asked to express “grave concern” over the dire events in that town since Hizballah forces fighting with the Syrian army captured most of its urban area.
Our military sources report heavy fighting is raging in the northern sector of al Qusayr since the rebels brought in reinforcements for their last stand late last week.
A Hizballah siege force has cut off food and water supplies for the 10,000 civilians and 2,500 opposition fighters trapped in that corner of the town. At least 1.200 wounded people are without access to medical attention.
Moscow claimed it blocked a Security Council motion on al Qusayr because there was no UN condemnation when the Syrian rebels captured the town in 2012.
For Israel, the Russian UN action is of great concern because it amounts to the extension of Moscow’s patronage not just to the Assad regime but also to Hizballah which spearheaded the al Qusayr offensive. This is consistent with the pledges of support Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov gave Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah during their secret conversation in Beirut on April 27.
When questioned on this score, Russian diplomats were evasive – in the same way as they are ambiguous about the S-300 missiles. However Moscow’s Security Council action leaves no room for doubt that Hizballah’s military intervention in the Syrian war has won a powerful champion in Moscow.
WarSclerotic 
June 2, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Not to make light of the current situation but, according to Debka;s constant alarmism- WWIII would have happened in 2004.
June 2, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Agreed, TB. It’s not just debka at the moment.
June 2, 2013 at 12:42 PM
#BreakingNews : Reuters quoting Lebanese security sources: Clashes between Hezbollah and FSA in Bekaa Valley over night. #Syria #Lebanon
June 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM
@antissa: Unusually intense flying by Israeli jets over #Beirut at the moment. They’re doing several rounds, quite loud #Lebanon
June 2, 2013 at 1:01 PM
#LEBANON (June2 #Beirut 13:47) LBC:Armed group attempts overnight set up missile launch pads in #Bekaa,clashes with #Hezbollah members.(NOW)
June 2, 2013 at 1:26 PM
people we know with contacts in russia are saying that putin has flipped his lid and this is russias last stand against the west,one of the sources is a senior officer in the russian army
June 2, 2013 at 1:40 PM
to justice for israel, did your source say why “putin flipped his”? putin has been sending billions of dollars in cash to bashar assad, billions of dollars worth of millitary equipment, of planes, tank parts, missiles. soilders, putin sent many ships over, nucleur submarine, now he is planning to send a aircraft carrier. putin has been deeply involved sending deadly military aid and cash to help bashar assad, so what is it that could have got putin to flip his lid?
June 2, 2013 at 2:05 PM
watch your step joop stop using my name or you will have very unpleasant exorbitance,can you ban this person using my name JW
June 2, 2013 at 2:22 PM
I’ll ban you both if you don’t stop out-knowing each other. Let us decide who makes sense.
If there are any more personal attacks I will take action.
My God ! Look what we’re up against ! It’s time to close ranks. Seriously….
June 2, 2013 at 2:13 PM
I doubt its joop somehow
June 2, 2013 at 2:50 PM
well joe how would you like it if i started commenting using your name,i couldn’t care less who it is,but they can stuff off and get there own name,or ill find them and hurt them
June 2, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Justice…
Just /msg me about shit like that. I haven’t seen it. If I do, I’ll take action.
June 2, 2013 at 5:11 PM
As goes the world, so goes the blog. Let’s not ruin a good thing. JW’s blog is the only place I now where we can stay on top on what concerns us all. Maybe one day we will have peace and JW can start a blog on gardening. Until then. let’s all move forward together. Onward through the fog!
June 2, 2013 at 5:15 PM
I,am not involved in this, i ,am not commenting on justice after the warning of MR Wouk.
Is it possible that it is justice who is reacting on the real justice , for sure it is not me.
June 2, 2013 at 5:25 PM
Thanks, Joop.
That’s how we stop this crap.
Kol HaKavod.
June 2, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Dash cham
June 2, 2013 at 5:53 PM
i know its not you now joop,some advice do better research into what your writhing then i wont ridicule you,and stop attacking America you know the country that bankrolls Israel,as the usa owes Israel nothing,,your lucky to have the usa s backing,trillions of dollars i n handouts if stopped would end israel,so attacking America and inventing ridicules conspiracy theories that are so way removed from the truth hurts our cause and helps our enemys which is why i don’t take you seriously,JW is right start your own site
June 2, 2013 at 5:27 PM
Come on kids 🙂
June 3, 2013 at 6:46 PM
“that other country is russia “Erdogan: “Foreign powers” behind Turkish protests
DEBKAfile June 3, 2013, 5:33 PM (GMT+02:00)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters Monday that Turkish intelligence is looking into possible links between the incidents in Taksim Square and foreign powers. He accused foreign actors of being behind the [Taksim Square protests]. “It is not possible to reveal their names. But we will have meetings with their heads,” said Erdoğan. “Those who advise us to be moderate must themselves first come to moderation,” he said before leaving for Morocco. Turkish unions strike Tuesday to protest excessive police violence against the demonstrators.
“
June 2, 2013 at 6:15 PM
I like to remember some people on this fact.
THE BERMUDA CONFERENCE
“Rescue was not the purpose of Bermuda. The purpose was to dampen growing pressures for rescue.” In a phrase, Bermuda was “a facade for inaction.”