Syrian powder keg has exploded: Major conflict in the Middle East likely weeks away?

  

April 30, 2013 – SYRIA – Two people were killed and 20 others were injured in northwestern Syrian province of Idlib Tuesday after warplanes dropped bags containing “strange substances,” Al-Jazeera reported, saying the suspicious material was apparently chemical weapons. Videos uploaded by the Qatari news network show casualties having difficulties breathing treated in makeshift hospitals. One video showed a healthcare professional drawing attention to the white foam coming out of an injured man’s mouth. The issue of possible chemical attacks by President Bashar Assad’s government has become a crucial factor that could lead to the United States and other western powers stepping up their involvement in the Syrian civil war. Both Washington and Jerusalem have expressed concern about chemical weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups – either hardline Islamist rebels fighting to topple Assad or his regional allies. Last week rebels claimed 42 people suffocated to death following a chemical attack by Assad’s forces on a Damascus suburb. Also last week, official mouthpiece Al-Watan said numerous regime fighters were hospitalized suffering from similar symptoms, namely difficulties in breathing. Some of the casualties have died, Al-Watan reported. Meanwhile, the bloodshed in Syria goes on as it has for every other day over the past three years. Opposition sources said 119 people were killed Monday as a result of fierce fighting between rebel forces and Assad loyalists throughout the country. The majority of the casualties came from different Damascus suburbs and as well as from the towns of Aleppo and Daraa. The London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper published statements by a Lebanese source claiming that Hezbollah is prepared for any military development. According to the source, this is in light of the meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, in which the two coordinated their stances regarding the support of Damascus. According to the report, sources in Lebanon believe that a war will break out within six weeks, involving Lebanon, Syria and possibly, Iran. –Ynet News

 

Washington draws up plans to attack Syrian sites: There is increasing speculation that Washington is considering an aerial or sea missile attack on Syrian chemical weapons sites, a CNN correspondent reported on Monday. The report quoted an anonymous senior administration official as saying, “there is intensified planning in the works.  As the situation in Syria becomes more grave and as we are increasingly concerned about chemical weapons use in Syria, it’s the responsibility of the U.S. military to prepare detailed options,” the official said. U.S. President Barack Obama has not asked for the strike options yet, but the Pentagon is preparing all military options, the official continued. Foot troops involvement has been discussed, but a missile strike is a far likelier scenario, even though Syrian chemical stockpiles are constantly moved around the country to avoid being located. Israel has joined Turkey and Jordan in discussions about possible courses of action if Syria threatens them with the use of chemical weapons, according to the report. There is increasing speculation that Washington is considering an aerial or sea missile attack on Syrian chemical weapons sites, a CNN correspondent reported on Monday. The report quoted an anonymous senior administration official as saying, “there is intensified planning in the works. As the situation in Syria becomes more grave and as we are increasingly concerned about chemical weapons use in Syria, it’s the responsibility of the U.S. military to prepare detailed options,” the official said. U.S. President Barack Obama has not asked for the strike options yet, but the Pentagon is preparing all military options, the official continued. Foot troops involvement has been discussed, but a missile strike is a far likelier scenario, even though Syrian chemical stockpiles are constantly moved around the country to avoid being located. Israel has joined Turkey and Jordan in discussions about possible courses of action if Syria threatens them with the use of chemical weapons, according to the report. Recently Egyptian and Iranian government officials conducted a meeting to discuss their growing concerns that the U.S. may choose to carry out a military operation in Syria, Arab newspaper ‘Al-Akhbar’ reported. –Jerusalem Post

Israeli jets hit Syrian Chem depot: The Free Syrian Army (FSA) reports that Israeli fighter jets slipped into Damascus over the weekend and bombed a chemical weapons depot outside the city. Neither Damascus nor Jerusalem have yet confirmed the attack, according to UPI. According to The Jewish Press (JP) “many” reports came in over the weekend confirming the mission. Sources told the JP Israeli jets arrived over Damascus early Saturday morning and circled Assad’s presidential compound before moving on to target the weapons site. The Israeli jets reportedly received fire but returned to base unscathed. The Lebanese Daily Star confirms heavy FSA fighting occurred near the plant, the Scientific Studies and Research Center, but troops lacked the resources to breach the heavily fortified site. Back in January, Israel bombed a Syrian convoy that may have departed from this center. –BI

Moscow suspends flights over Syria: Moscow has asked Russian airlines to suspend all their flights over “war zones” after Syria had allegedly fired two missiles at a Russian aircraft carrying 159 passengers. Rosaviatsia, the aviation watchdog in Moscow, said the recent “hostilities” against the Russian passenger jet in Syria prompted the move. The watchdog said in a statement: “Taking into account recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO]…Rosaviatsia deems it necessary to recommend that the Russian airlines suspend the flights of passenger planes, including those in transit flights, over the territory of countries where combat actions are taking place.” The Russian foreign ministry has said the authorities would be investigating the alleged Syrian missile attack. The ministry said its officials have tried to contact Syrian authorities over the issue. Moscow had admitted that the aircraft had faced danger but said it was unclear whether it was a targeted attack. “Syrian [officials] informed us that on Monday morning, unidentified forces launched two ground-to-air missiles which exploded in the air very close to a civilian aircraft belonging to a Russian airline,” an informed source in Moscow told the Interfax news agency. The pilots managed to maneuver the flight saving the lives of dozens of passengers. –IB Times

contribution Niebo