Israel Resource Review |
24th September, 2006 |
Contents:
ISRAELI INTEL: ASSAD FAVORS ANOTHER WAR: US RESUPPLIES ISRAEL
Middle East News Line
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Syria, buoyed by Hizbullah's success against Israel, has
ordered his military to prepare for a regional war with the Jewish state.
The Middle East News Line has confirmed reports from Israeli intelligence sources which assess that Syrian President Bashar Assad has ordered a series of measures meant to bolster the preparedness of his military. The sources cited increased training, exercises, procurement as well as an examination of Israeli ground and air battles in Lebanon in July and August.
"We see signs of a new strategy in the Syrian military based on the
lessons from the Hizbullah war," an intelligence source said. "It could take months until the picture becomes clearer."
The sources said the Intelligence Corps has detected Syrian activities
in the Golan Heights that could mark preparations for another war. They said Syria appeared to be planning to bring people to the Golan to serve as a human shield during any conflict with Israel.
"We think Assad and the Syrian military were very impressed with
Hizbullah's ability to fight from urban areas and our unwillingness to hit
civilians," the source said. "We think the Syrians will adopt this model."
The sources said Iran has brought a huge amount of weapons and munitions
to Syria for delivery to Hizbullah positions in Lebanon. But they said
Israeli intelligence has not detected a serious attempt to transport the
equipment from Syria to Lebanon. They said Israel Air Force fighter-jets
have been patrolling Lebanon in search of weapons convoys from Syria.
Over the last few months, the sources said, Syria has bolstered its air
defense network. They said Syria has obtained the first Igla-S SA-18 mobile, short-range surface-to-air missiles from Russia.
The sources termed the Igla-S one of the most advanced anti-aircraft
weapons available, and did not rule out that Iran or Syria would transfer
batteries to Hizbullah. In 2005, Russia pledged that the Igla-S delivered to Syria would be mounted on vehicles rather than its standard man-portable
configuration.
Another assessment by Israeli intelligence was that Syria could form a
Hizbullah-type organization that would strike Israeli targets on the Golan.
The sources said Syria planned to avoid any responsibility for these
attacks, which could be blamed on infiltrators from Lebanon or anti-Assad
opponents.
"We see signs of this happening although there have not been any
attacks," the source said. "Right now, everybody is assessing the war,
reviewing their requirements and getting ready for the next round."
ISRAEL CONTINUES TO RESUPPLY IN BOMBS FROM THE USA
Middle East News Line has also confirmed that The Israel Air Force, seeking to replenish stockpiles depleted from the war in Lebanon, has continued its effort to acquire
munitions from the United States.
Israeli Military sources said C-130 air transports and state-owned airliners
have been shuttling between Israel and the United States to load up with
munitions and related equipment. They said the effort began in wake of the
33-day Israel-Hizbullah war in Lebanon, which ended on August 14.
"It's a non-stop shuttle," a military source said. "Flights are taking
place nearly every day and we're taking whatever they're willing to give or
sell us."
The sources said the air force plans to replace its stockpile of air
munitions, particularly standard general purpose air bombs. During the war,
they said, the air force used so-called dumb bombs stored for more than 30
years.
"They were rusty but they worked," the source said. "Now, we want new
munitions for our stockpile."
The sources said the U.S. supplies were being delivered from the Dover
Air Force base in Dover, Del., located near Washington. They said the Israel Air Force has been obtaining U.S. Air Force surplus bombs and related equipment to prepare for any near-term conflict with Hizbullah or its allies, Iran and Syria.
During the war, the Israel Air Force conducted 15,000 sorties in
Lebanon, more than any other conflict in Israel's history. The sources said
the air force depleted its supply of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, which
converts general purpose bombs to guided munitions.
The sources said the General Staff was expected to discuss a proposal to
renew a strategic production line of air and ground munitions to avoid
dependency on the United States during any war. They said such a line had
operated until the 1990s, when the Defense Ministry and military agreed that a conventional war was unlikely. The state-owned Israel Military Industries had operated the munitions line.
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