Text 21541, 80 rader
Skriven 2006-08-01 19:10:05 av John Hull (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: Syrian attack on Israel
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Israel is currently carrying out heavy bombardment of the area in eastern
Lebanon from the border to the Bekaa Valley, just 5 miles from Syria, and all
along the Syria/Lebanon border north of the Golan.

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WND Exclusive FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU

Syrian group claims it attacked Israel
New organization says it will stage more assaults against Jewish state
Posted: July 31, 2006
5:44 p.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

TEL AVIV – A group claiming to operate out of Syria took credit today for what
it said was an attack against Israeli troops operating near the Syria-Israel
border, according to a source in Syrian President Bashar Assad's Ba'ath party.

The claim preceded statements from Assad today warning Syria would not be
deterred from helping Lebanon.

The group, calling itself the Front for the Liberation of the Golan, faxed a
letter to Ba'ath party officials stating it planted a roadside bomb that
targeted an Israeli army jeep today, killing one Israeli soldier.

A spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces said no soldiers were killed or
injured today near the Israel-Syrian border.

A mine did reportedly explode on the Syrian side of the border, but no injuries
were reported among Israeli troops. It wasn't clear what caused the explosion.
Military officials have warned the past few weeks Hezbollah may fire into Syria
in attempts to draw Damascus into a confrontation with Israel.

Israel is operating in select areas close to the Syrian border at positions
near Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights. Israeli officials say the Syrian army
has been placed on high alert along the border with Israel and Lebanon, but it
hasn't staged any attacks.

Israel captured the Golan Heights, a strategic mountainous territory, after
Syria used the terrain to attack the Jewish state in 1967 and again in 1973. It
borders Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

Israeli security officials said they had no information about the Front for the
Liberation of the Golan.

The Ba'ath party official told WND the Front formed last month and will attempt
attacks against Israelis. The official said the group claims to consist of
"hundreds" of Syrian volunteers, many from the Syrian border with Turkey.

The claim by the Front was followed by statements today from Assad in which he
instructed the Syrian army to "be prepared for all scenarios because we believe
that falling for the sake of heaven (martyrdom) is the only way to freedom and
victory.

"Syria, which stood by its brother (Lebanon) and sacrificed martyrs to defend
Lebanon's freedom as we did for Syria's sovereignty, remains as always adamant
in standing by our Arab people who's fighting in Lebanon and Palestine, and by
the bold national resistance who struck the enemy. All threats voiced by powers
in the world who support t he enemy won't deter us from continuing to support
our brothers."

Syria, along with Iran, is a primary sponsor of Hezbollah. Israel says Syria
has been allowing weaponry, including thousands of rockets, to be transported
from its borders to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The leaders of Palestinian terror
groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, operate openly from Damascus.

Syria is also accused by the U.S. of allowing insurgents to cross through its
borders to attack American troops in Iraq. There have been reports of Syria
providing weapons and intelligence information to the insurgents.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief
of Staff Dan Halutz have stated dozens of times since the Jewish state started
its military campaign against Hezbollah July 12 that Israel has no intention of
acting against Syria.

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