U.S. officials confirm IAF carried out strike in Syria - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., September 13, 2007 ,

Israel Time: 20:18 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 19:24 12/09/2007

U.S. officials confirm IAF carried out strike in Syria

By Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies

Reuters reported Wednesday that U.S. officials had confirmed Israel launched air strikes against Syria last week, but would not discuss the intended targets.

"The strike I can confirm. The target, I can't," said one U.S. official, adding that there had been more than one
strike.

	Advertisement

Another official called reports on the likely targets "confused." While Israel remained silent, media reports began surfacing Tuesday of U.S. officials confirming the IAF had indeed carried out an air strike. The New York Times on Wednesday said likely targets were weapons caches that Israel believes Iran has sent through Syria to Hezbollah.

The New York Times quoted a Defense Department official as saying the IAF struck at least one target in northeastern Syria, but said it was unclear what the target was and what was the extent of the damage.

Syria has protested to the United Nations about the strike on its territory on Thursday, but has also said nothing was hit and there was no damage.

Israel has declined to comment on the charge, however the CNN television network reported Tuesday that the Israeli government is "very happy with the successful operation."

Senior correspondent Christiane Amanpour, citing Middle Eastern and Washington sources, said aircraft and possibly even ground forces, which may have directed the planes to their target, took part in the operation.

The attack left "a big hole in the desert," the report said. CNN said U.S. government and military sources said they were "happy to have Israel convey to both Syria and Iran the message that they can get in and out and strike when necessary."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Purring with humanity
	A non-profit organization has set up a shelter housing some 700 cats in Latrun.


	Bicycling Tel Aviv
	Tel Aviv will soon join the list of cities that offer bicycle rentals at a nominal cost.




1.	Reports are that it may have been an Iranian funded missile base.	19:33	\|	Murray of Montreal	12/09/07

2.	funny thing havent heard ahmadinejad mouthing off lately	19:38	\|	de sterix	12/09/07

3.	Leak and counter Leak - Washington to sink?	19:50	\|	Mark Lincoln	12/09/07

4.	Iran`s `President` Oddly Quiet. Why? Because he says `Gulp.`	20:05	\|	Solon	13/09/07

Today Online


	Report: American officials confirm IAF strike in Syria
	Responses: 716


	Bradley Burston: To the readers whom I have wronged
	Responses: 124


	ANALYSIS: The Syria air strike is a secret that cannot be kept
	Responses: 237


	Rosner & Benn: This year, Bush will decide whether to attack Iran
	Responses: 157


	Israeli neo-Nazis charged with racial assaults, incitement
	Responses: 91

Rosner's Domain

* Daring predictions for the new year

* The Israel Factor: Ranking Thompson's views on Iran/ PA

* Israel supporters unhappy about Obama/Brzezinski

* Rosner's Guest: Rabbis should participate in interfaith ceremonies

More Headlines
17:30 U.S. warned N. Korea not to help Syria with nukes


17:53 ANALYSIS: N. Korea's past threats to spread nuclear technology


16:29 Two Jihad militants hurt in IAF strike on car en route to attack


19:09 French FM: Mideast summit must be tackled with caution


12:16 Group fears ties between Gaza Islamists, Austrian terror cell


11:59 Foreign Minister urges tougher UN sanctions against Iran


18:35 Madonna attends Kabbalah conference in Tel Aviv


17:19 Five people die in traffic accidents across Israel Thursday


11:30 Swastika smeared on synagogue in Germany on Rosh Hashana eve