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Lebanon’s
Naharnet news site said 12 Israeli fighter jets entered Lebanese air space in
the last 24 hours. Flights overflew the Beka Valley.On Saturday, Lebanon’s
Al-Mustaqbal daily said a southern weapons storage facility was struck. No
official confirmation followed.
Lebanon’s
Daily Star headlined “Israel hits target in Lebanon-Syria border area –
sources,” saying:
According
to four unnamed Western diplomats and regional security sources, “Israeli
forces attacked a convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight.”
Little
further information followed. Israel warned earlier about “high-tech
anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles reaching Israel’s enemies.” Chemical
weapons concerns were raised.
Lebanese
military sources reported multiple Israeli incursions into Lebanon’s airspace
overnight.
According
to one source:
“There
was definitely a hit in the border area.” Without elaborating, he said
“something happened.”
Another
said “The Israeli air force blew up a convoy which had just crossed the border
from Syria into Lebanon.”
An
IDF spokeswoman said “We do not comment on reports of this kind.”
France’s
Le Figaro said Israeli aircraft attacked an alleged weapons convoy traveling
from Syria to Lebanon. It’s not clear if it occurred in Syrian or Lebanese
territory.
On
Sunday, Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom said “The entire world has said more
than once that it takes developments in Syria very seriously.”
Negative
developments would have to be addressed, he added.
Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Israel won’t “compromise on the security of
the northern front.”
On
January 29, Al-Monitor said IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi
traveled to Washington to meet US Pentagon officials. Whether doing so is
connected to Israel’s attack isn’t clear.
Netanyahu
held recent security meetings. Discussions focused on Syrian and Lebanese
issues. Cabinet members were told:
“It
is necessary to look at our surroundings, both at what is happening with Iran
and its proxies, and what is happening in other arenas – lethal weaponry in
Syria, which is steadily breaking up.”
Israel
Air Force commander, Major General Amir Eshel, said Syria is “falling apart.
Nobody has any idea right now what is going to happen in Syria on the day
after, and how the country is going to look.”
“This
is happening in a place with a huge weapons arsenal, some of which are new and
advanced, and some of which are not conventional.”
On
January 20, Mossad-connected DEBKAfile said “Israeli aircraft target(ed)
Hizbollah missiles in Zabadani. S. Syria.”
Israeli
aircraft struck “missile and arms convoys standing ready in southern Syria for
transfer to Hizbollah in Lebanon, according to Western sources.”
On
Sunday, Israel deployed two Iron Dome missile defense systems. They’re
stationed on Israel’s Golan border. Their effectiveness is way overblown.
UN
observers monitoring Syria’s border with Israel were withdrawn. At issue is
why. Netanyahu’s stoking fear. He does it repeatedly on Iran. Whether he’s got
something else in mind now bears close watching.