The Syrians are building up their arms and army, moving closer to the border, and installing thousands of rockets after the Hizbollah fashion of last year’s Lebanon war. But they want peace, they say. Uh-huh. And of course, the Israelis are being told they’re imagining things. The Syrians are just talking when they threaten to take back the Golan Heights by force.
No tangible evidence exists, Israel told the U.S., that Damascus is planning an all-out war with Israel. But it is believed that Damascus has concluded that Israel might respond to various Syrian actions and that would be the cause of a full-blown confrontation.
[…] Such evaluations have been made before and proven mistaken. However, facts on the ground show the Syrian army is increasing its battle readiness, munitions production (especially of rockets and missiles), emergency stores and is acquiring more weapons systems from Iran. It has purchased a large number of advanced anti-tank missiles from the Russians, with whom it also negotiating the purchase of Russia’s latest anti-aircraft missiles.
The Syrians have deployed Iranian naval missiles (originally Chinese), the C. 802. The destructive power and range of Syria’s rockets and missiles has clearly grown in recent years. Israel does not rule out a possible Syrian grab for the Golan, assuming that if Israel counter-attacks the Syrian lines it will incur heavy losses. Thus, the IDF’s power has also increased, especially that of the Israel Air Force.
So, when I say “Oh yeah? You and what five armies?” to the Syrian threats to destroy Israel, let’s count how many are already there: Hamas, Hizbollah, Saudi Arabia by proxy (as always), Iran (via the terrorists and Syria), and, well, the rest of the Muslim world that sends money to the terrorists. They’re almost at five armies, though.
This summer will not be a good one for Israel, I think.