IDF Prepares for Possible Syrian Diversionary Attack

by Yaakov Katz

Concern is mounting within the IDF over the possibility that Syria will attack Israel as pressure mounts on President Bashar Assad to step down. The move is seen as part of a potential effort by Damascus to deter Arab countries from dispatching military support to opposition forces.

The concern is still under the surface, but the IDF's Northern Command has drawn up a number of operational responses to a range of scenarios that could evolve along the northern front.

Nevertheless, Israel fears that Assad, under pressure, could turn the military force - that he has been using in an attempt to quell the ongoing uprising against his regime - against Israel.

Israel's concern hones in on recent reports that Assad is using nerve gas against the opposition. This has led Israel to reassess the possibility that Syria might now be more willing to use chemical weapons against Israeli targets.

Syria is believed to have one of the most extensive chemical weapon arsenals in the world that reportedly includes Sarin, VX and Mustard Gas.

Israel's is also considering the possibility that Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons will fall into terrorist hands. This stems from intelligence obtained by the West which indicates that advanced conventional military platforms have already been moved out of Syria by Hezbollah.

Yaakov Katz

Source:

Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.