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Syria Tag

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 17, 2013 11 Comments

Michael Weiss at Lebanon NOW reports, Rise of the militias: The use of chemical weapons and Obama’s fudged “red line” has given way to gruesome footage of a schismatic Syrian rebel commander biting into the lung of a slain Hezbollah fighter and vowing revenge against Assadist...

Posted by David Gerstman on May 14, 2013 0 Comments

1) Syria considerations Last week former executive editor of the New York Times, Bill Keller wrote Syria is not Iraq. The gist of his argument is that he trusts President Obama but shouldn't have trusted President Bush. It's a silly argument. However, as Dexter Filkins reports,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 06, 2013 6 Comments

The enormous mushroom cloud, the earth-shaking earthquake-like reverberations, the secondary explosions. We're heard a lot of noise from Syria, but relatively little about casualties. The NY Times reports over 100 dead soldiers: The attack, which sent brightly lighted columns of smoke and ash high into the night sky...

Posted by David Gerstman on May 06, 2013 4 Comments

1) The Israeli "message" Why is it that threats against Israel are regularly downplayed by the media? 'Everywhere an #Iranian embassy exists, they plan terror on #Jews, #Israelis' ow.ly/kJZlH— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) May 6, 2013 Typical of this phenomenon is the headline Airstrikes Tied to Israel May...

Posted by David Gerstman on May 05, 2013 8 Comments

Syria Explodes Professor Jacobson has previously reported on two Israeli strikes: one against Hezbollah and one against Syria. What's going on? Classic thing about the strike on Damascus is how it will be spun by Assad. He'll argue it's "PROOF" he's facing a takfiri-Zionist alliance.— Phillip Smyth (@PhillipSmyth)...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 05, 2013 4 Comments

For the details at the start of the bombing, take a look at last night's post, Reports – large explosions in Damascus (Update – Syria blames Israel), which has embedded videos and Twitter accounts.  The Twitter feed now is at the bottom of this post. This...

Posted by David Gerstman on April 26, 2013 7 Comments

Next in Syria Why hasn't the United States acted more strongly against Bashar Assad? Read: nyti.ms/12Ke82b on Assad's effort to sell his line to the US. Then this on why WH has already bought it: mme.cm/887R00— Tony Badran (@AcrossTheBay) April 25, 2013 The New York Times reports on...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 25, 2013 11 Comments

The use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime was supposed to be a red line. Two days ago, when Israel suggested chemical weapons had been used, it was dismissed as Israel trying to maneuver U.S. policy. The U.S. now has evidence that such weapons were used,...

Posted by David Gerstman on April 22, 2013 4 Comments

1) The red line? Back in December, NBC News reported that Syria had loaded chemical weapons onto planes and was prepared to use them against civilians. Syria prepared to use chemical weapons against own people; military awaits final orders, US officials tell @nbcnews nbcnews.to/RCH3Cz— Breaking News (@BreakingNews)...

Posted by David Gerstman on April 18, 2013 1 Comment

1)  Syria and contiguity Jacques Neria writes in Stalemate in the Syrian Civil War: While Assad has survived so far, he has not been able to quell the rebellion, the economy is in shambles, and so are most of the areas hit by the civil war. Hundreds...

Posted by David Gerstman on April 10, 2013 2 Comments

1) Egyptian plagues Last week Zvi Mazel wrote in the Jerusalem Post (h/t Leslie Eastman) In a remarkable and enduring show of unity, non-Islamic opposition parties under the banner of the National Salvation Front are boycotting the regime until their demands – canceling the Islamic constitution...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on February 18, 2013 11 Comments

From The Daily Star in Lebanon, one of the best websites for news about what's happening there and in Syria, Three Hezbollah fighters, 12 Syrian rebels killed in clashes: Three Hezbollah fighters and 12 Syrian rebels were killed in fierce battles near Syria’s border with Lebanon,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on February 02, 2013 11 Comments

We don't know what or why Israel carried out a secretive bombing mission in Syria earlier this week. Speculation runs from hitting advanced anti-aircraft missiles on their way to Hezbollah, to a biological or chemicals weapons institute, to other unnamed but sufficiently important targets. One thing we...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 07, 2012 10 Comments

Given the news, that could refer to several different issues. But I mean it with regard to Syria, where almost everyone seems to view Assad's days are numbered, but no one seems to be sure how many days.  With Iran and Hezbollah at this side, Assad...

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