A week after Syria accused Israel of infiltrating its airspace and jettisoning ammunition in its territory, officials in both Damascus and Jerusalem continue to keep the details of the incident under a heavy veil of secrecy. Syria lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations on Tuesday, saying that Israel's "breach of airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic" constituted a "flagrant violation." Israeli officials, meanwhile, continue to maintain a studied silence.
In recent days, however, several reports have emerged quoting anonymous US sources confirming that the Israeli foray took place and suggesting Israeli forces had carried out a provocative attack on a strategic target.
CNN reported that the attack, which took place in northern Syria overnight between Sept. 5 and 6, may have targeted weapons shipments from Iran en route to Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon. The news network added that its sources suggested that the strike included Israeli ground forces, which helped the aircraft pinpoint a strike that left behind "a large hole in the desert."
Syria denies reports that the Israeli infiltration was aimed at weapons shipments destined for Lebanon, reports Iran's Fars News Agency. A Syrian military source said the media reports were leaked by Israel in an effort to sow dissension in Lebanon and to threaten Iran.
If such allegations are true, how come Israel suffices to such unofficial reports and does not announce the reality and the goals of its dangerous intrusion in an official statement," Fars news reported, citing a Syrian military source.
"Where was the alleged truck coming from and where was it going? Why has the aggression happened in the northern parts of Syria and in the vicinity of our shared borders with Turkey?"
However in the absence of any on-the-record details of the incident, the flurry of anonymous official commentary is only likely to enhance the ambiguity surrounding the strike rather than clear the fog.
A BBC analysis concluded:
There are still more questions than answers in this affair. More information is slowly seeping out.
But in many ways it is remarkable that in an age of instant news and the worldwide web spreading information almost at the speed of light, there can still be episodes like this that remain shrouded in so many layers of mystery.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0913/p99s01-duts.html
The only people interested in this news ---->*CRICKETS*
In recent days, however, several reports have emerged quoting anonymous US sources confirming that the Israeli foray took place and suggesting Israeli forces had carried out a provocative attack on a strategic target.
CNN reported that the attack, which took place in northern Syria overnight between Sept. 5 and 6, may have targeted weapons shipments from Iran en route to Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon. The news network added that its sources suggested that the strike included Israeli ground forces, which helped the aircraft pinpoint a strike that left behind "a large hole in the desert."
Syria denies reports that the Israeli infiltration was aimed at weapons shipments destined for Lebanon, reports Iran's Fars News Agency. A Syrian military source said the media reports were leaked by Israel in an effort to sow dissension in Lebanon and to threaten Iran.
If such allegations are true, how come Israel suffices to such unofficial reports and does not announce the reality and the goals of its dangerous intrusion in an official statement," Fars news reported, citing a Syrian military source.
"Where was the alleged truck coming from and where was it going? Why has the aggression happened in the northern parts of Syria and in the vicinity of our shared borders with Turkey?"
However in the absence of any on-the-record details of the incident, the flurry of anonymous official commentary is only likely to enhance the ambiguity surrounding the strike rather than clear the fog.
A BBC analysis concluded:
There are still more questions than answers in this affair. More information is slowly seeping out.
But in many ways it is remarkable that in an age of instant news and the worldwide web spreading information almost at the speed of light, there can still be episodes like this that remain shrouded in so many layers of mystery.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0913/p99s01-duts.html
The only people interested in this news ---->*CRICKETS*
