White specks appear on the horizon and a voice crackles over the radio with a warning: “The speed boat is acting independently.” Two boats on suicide bombing missions had been spotted either side of the INS Hanit, one of the Israeli navy’s top warships. “We recognise the target. This is an immediate enemy,” a voice … Read more
A joint command centre made up of forces from Russia, Iran and militias backing Syrian President Bashar al Assad threatened reprisals against any party that carries out “aggression” against Syria, two days after US missiles hit a Syrian air base. The United States fired dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian air base on Friday … Read more
A site hit by airstrikes on Tuesday in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib Allies of Damascus have threatened reprisals against any party that carries out “aggression” against Syria, two days after US missile strikes hit a Syrian airbase. “The aggression against Syria oversteps all red lines. We will react firmly to any … Read more
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel remained committed to treating war wounded from Syria and reaffirmed his support for last week’s US air strike in the neighbouring country. In comments at the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu did not specify whether those injured in last week’s suspected chemical attack in Syria would … Read more
Israel fears an “Iranian crescent” may be forming in the Middle East because of Tehran’s influence in Syria and its connections with regional Shiite groups, an intelligence official said Monday. The comments from Chagai Tzuriel, director general of Israel’s intelligence ministry, illustrate his country’s growing concerns over its arch-foe Iran’s involvement in the conflict in … Read more
A Lebanese university will pay $700,000 to settle a US lawsuit over allegations it provided “material support” to entities linked to Hezbollah, US officials said. The American University of Beirut confirmed in a statement Friday it was settling the lawsuit, which charged it had violated the terms of grants it received from US Agency for … Read more
Israel’s military chief said on Tuesday that Hezbollah’s military commander in Syria, reported dead last year, was killed by members of his own Lebanese Shiite group. Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, speaking to a security conference, said intelligence had led Israel to the conclusion and matched previous reports. Hezbollah itself has said Mustafa Badreddine, who … Read more
A senior army officer said Monday that Israel had fired its Arrow missile at a Syrian rocket which posed a “ballistic threat” during clashes over the weekend. Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Syria on Friday, drawing retaliatory missile fire, in the most serious incident between the two countries since the start of the Syrian … Read more
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Sunday threatened to destroy Syrian air defence systems after they fired ground-to-air missiles at Israeli warplanes carrying out strikes. “The next time the Syrians use their air defence systems against our planes we will destroy them without the slightest hesitation,” Lieberman said on Israeli public radio. Israeli warplanes hit … Read more
Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Syria early Friday, prompting retaliatory missile launches, in the most serious incident between the two countries since the Syrian civil war began six years ago. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes targeted weapons bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and that the Jewish State would do the same again … Read more
In Aleppo, portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin hang shoulder-to-shoulder with those of his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, signalling Moscow’s rise at the expense of Damascus’s other ally, Iran. The rivalry between the two primary backers of the Syrian government is becoming increasingly palpable, according to Syrian officials and a Russian analyst. Iran is proud … Read more
Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Syria early Friday, prompting retaliatory missiles launches, in the most serious incident between the two countries since the Syrian civil war began six years ago. Syria’s military said it had downed an Israeli plane and hit another as they were carrying out pre-dawn strikes near the famed desert city … Read more
Israeli aircraft carried out several strikes on Syria overnight, prompting the launch of ground-to-air missiles in response, one of which was intercepted, the army said on Friday. It was the most serious incident between the two countries, which remain technically at war, since civil war broke out in Syria in March 2011. “Overnight… aircraft targeted … Read more
Israel’s medical services have treated more than 2,600 Syrians wounded during their country’s conflict since 2013, despite the two nations being officially at war, the Israeli army said Tuesday. “The wounded are transferred to the border where they receive first aid from Israeli medical teams before being taken to hospitals,” the army said on its … Read more
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday to voice opposition to what the Israeli leader charged were Iran’s attempts to establish a permanent military foothold in Syria. “In the framework of a (future peace agreement) or without one, Iran is attempting to base itself permanently in … Read more
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Moscow to press for a limit to Iran’s influence in Syria. Israel is deeply concerned over whether Syria’s civil war will result in its arch-foe Iran having increased its power in the neighbouring country. Netanyahu, who has held … Read more
An Israeli court ruled Wednesday that a tanker of liquefied ammonia in the port city of Haifa must be emptied of its toxic content within 30 days. The container, which can hold 12,000 tonnes of the corrosive liquid, made headlines last year when Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon’s Shiite militia Hezbollah, said it would go … Read more
Israel’s army dispersed dozens of Lebanese demonstrators Saturday after they crossed the border protesting against the alleged installation of spying equipment in their village, the Israeli army and media said. “Dozens of people gathered at the border between Lebanon and Israel,” a military spokeswoman said. “Upon the group crossing of the international border, IDF forces … Read more
Israel’s environment ministry announced Wednesday it will not renew the license of an ammonia container in the port city of Haifa as it poses a potentially deadly threat to residents. The container, which holds 12,000 tonnes of the toxic, corrosive liquid, puts the public “at a risk we cannot accept”, the ministry said in a … Read more
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen will visit Lebanon next week for talks with leaders of Paris’s former mandate territory, a Lebanese government source said Wednesday. “Madame Le Pen will be in Beirut on the 19th and 20th, and will meet (President Michel) Aoun and (Prime Minister Saad) Hariri on Monday,” the source told AFP, … Read more