Commentary and analyses on terrorism, intelligence, security, and military and political affairs in the Middle East.
Obama still tries to stop Israeli Iran strike. West confronts Iran in Syria
US President Barack Obama, by asserting Sunday, Feb. 5, he doesn't think Israel has decided whether to attack Iran,sought to keep Israel away from military action and set aside as a strategic reserve, while using its threat of attack to bring Iran to the table. Monday, Feb. 6, Bashar Assad reportedly redoubled his deadly assault on Homs and, for the first time, Aleppo, taking advantage of the respite granted him by the Russian-Chinese veto. Syria is now a hub of the US-Iranian confrontation.
Assad sends hit squads after top Lebanese officials
Syrian President Bashar Assad has hired hit squads to kill top Lebanese government, intelligence and security officials whom he suspects of helping insurrectionists and Saudi and Qatari agents smuggle fighters and weapons into the country to fight his regime. debkafile's counter-terror sources report that one Lebanese hit squad was captured and confessed to being armed and assigned by Syrian Military Intelligence to murder the two heads of Lebanese Internal Security by rigging bomb cars in Beirut. A second plot targeted a Lebanese lawmaker.
Russia vetoes motion after preparing Special Forces for Syria
The West and Russia had a major showdown Saturday Feb. 5 over the Arab League resolution calling on Bashar Assad to step down. US President Barack Obama said the UN must take a stand against his "relentless brutality" and hold a vote before the end of the day. The vote was defeated by Russian and China vetoes. debkafile: Moscow backed its hard line against the West by puttingRapid Reaction Force (aka Spetsnaz) units on the ready to set out for Syria.
Americans talk about an Israeli strike on Iran, but prepare own offensive
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has been outspoken about a possible Israeli offensive being launched against Iran from April, but has not leveled about massive US war preparations. The question is no longer if armed hostilities are afoot, but when. Tehran too is gearing up with a new three-week "exercise" and calling allies to the flag, including Syria. There, the appalling bloodbath has reached a scale – 350 Saturday, Feb. 4 alone – which potentially rivals nuclear Iran as the trigger for a Middle East confrontation.
A Western-Arab Undercover Exercise Afoot to Oust Bashar Assad
To pierce the layers of armor devised by Syrian, Russian and Iranian strategists to keep Assad afloat, the Western-Arab bloc is recruiting top Syrian generals to march on Damascus and unseat the dictator.
Israel's Military Girds up to Strike Iran This Spring
Israel's generals are putting on a show of military capabilities ready to strike Iran's nuclear weapons facilities by March accompanied by a stream of rhetoric about the tight timeline for Iran's progress toward building a nuclear bomb.
Iran Didn't Bring Down the RQ-170. A Chinese Cyber Whiz Team Did
US stealth drones stay out of Iranian skies since the RQ-170 was downed now that American intelligence knows that a Chinese cyber team was responsible. The Obama administration is avoiding a reckoning with Beijing because Washington needs the Chinese on America's side – especially in a presidential election year.
US Promises Israel Warning of Iranian Missiles from Its Turkey-Based Radar Station
A senior US emissary promised Israel that its X-band radar station in Turkey would share data with Israel on a coming Iranian missile attack – contrary to the Turkish foreign minister's assurances to Tehran.
Panetta Brings Forward the US-NATO Exit, Pakistan Lets Al Qaeda Run for Office
NATO allies dismayed by US Defense Secretary's cutting the Afghanistan war short by one year without notice. Taliban is playing hard to get over peace talks while Pakistan retaliates for being cut out by letting an Al Qaeda front-man run for parliament.
A Digest of DEBKAfile Round-the-Clock Exclusives in Week Ending February 2, 2012
A Digest of debkafile Round-the-Clock Exclusives in Week Ending February 2, 2012
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