Israel Bombs Near Damascus - Palestinian Militants, PFLP-GC, Return Fire

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://yalibnan.com/2015/12/20/israel-army-shells-south-lebanon-after-cross-border-rocket-attack/ yahoo/AFP http://yalibnan.com/2015/12/20/israel-army-shells-south-lebanon-after-cross-border-rocket-attack/ Israel army shells south Lebanon after cross-border rocket attack December 20, 2015 by yalibnan The Israeli military said it shelled unspecified targets in neighbouring south Lebanon shortly after cross-border rocket fire hit northern Israel on Sunday. “The Israel Defence Forces have responded with targeted artillery fire following the rockets that hit Israel earlier today from southern Lebanon,” an English-language army statement said. Israeli military sources told AFP that one rocket crashed into the Galilee region and the impact of another was heard. No casualties were reported. The sources said the military ordered local residents into bomb shelters. In Lebanon, the national news agency NNA said Israel fired nine rounds of artillery at the south. The rocket fire from the Hezbollah heartland of south Lebanon followed the killing of Samir Kantar, a militant in the Shiite group notorious for the 1979 murder of three Israelis, including a four-year-old girl. Hezbollah said the 54-year-old Kantar was killed in an Israeli air strike near the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday night. There was no confirmation from Israel that it was responsible for Kantar’s killing. Several rockets were fired from Lebanon in summer 2014 as Israel waged war against the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas in Gaza. Israeli artillery returned fire. The border region has otherwise been largely quiet since Hezbollah and Israel fought a devastating war in 2006 that left much of southern Lebanon in ruins. Northern Israel The mayor of Nahariya and the head of the Shlomi Regional Council in northern Israel ordered Sunday the opening of bomb shelters in their respective locales, after at least three rockets landed earlier in the evening in open areas of the Western Galilee region according to Israeli media. All three rockets reportedly  landed near Shlomi, a small town near the Lebanese border, while sirens sounded in Nahariya, a larger coastal city about 10 kilometers southwest. PFLP-GC takes responsibility for attack The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, a Syria-based Palestinian terror group, took responsibility for the rocket fire, according to Lebanese media cited by Israel’s Channel 2. UNIFIL UNIFIL, the UN force charged with overseeing security in south Lebanon, released a statement saying it had stepped up patrols along the border between Israel and Lebanon in a bid to tamp down on cross-border violence. The statement noted that UNIFIL radars detected three rockets shot at Israel earlier in the evening. UNIFIL chief Luciano Portolano added that he was in contact with officials in Lebanon and Israel in a bid to restore calm. “This is a serious incident in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and is clearly directed at undermining stability in the area. It is imperative to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this attack. Additional troops have been deployed on the ground and patrols have been intensified across our area of operations in coordination with the LAF to prevent any further incidents,” Portolano said, according to the UNIFIL statement. A Lebanese source told AFP that the rockets were Katyushas. yahoo/AFP http://yalibnan.com/2015/12/20/israel-army-shells-south-lebanon-after-cross-border-rocket-attack/ SUMMARY Israel Military -- to AFP: x1 rocket crash Galilee region -- no casualties NAA -- Lebanon news agency reports -- x9 rounds artillery from Israel South Lebanon -- reportedly fires rockets -- following killing of Samir Kantar (Hezbollah) Hezbollah -- says 54-yo Samir Kantar killed -- Israel air strike near Damascus Syria -- no confirmation from Israel Israel - Lebanon -- last rockets fired between Lebanon & Israel -- during mid 2014 Gaza War -- Israel vs Hamas in Palestine / Gaza -- several rockets reportedly fired from Lebanon -- otherwise, border region quiet -- Israel returned artillery fire Israel - Lebanon 2006 -- Israel devastated much of southern Lebanon Northern Israel -- Shlomi Regional Council -- orders opening bomb shelters -- x3 rockets landed, Western Galilee, near Shlomi -- (Lebanon border proximity) -- { Israel media reports  } Syria-based Palestinian group Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) -- takes responsibility for rocket fire (Israel Ch.2, cites Lebanese media) UNIFIL -- established 1978 -- following Israel invasion of Lebanon -- to supervise withdraw of troops & restoration of security -- since then, abt 540 personnel in Lebanon -- rotating every 6 months -- plus: abt 100 others at UNIFIL headquarters at Tibnin -- total of 47 Defence Forces personnel -- killed - first 23 years of mission http://www.military.ie/overseas/current-missions/unifil/ United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) -- created by UN Security Council -- March 1978 -- to confirm Israel withdrawal from Lebanon -- to restore peace / security -- to assist Lebanese govt in restoring authority -- mandate adjusted twice: -- 1982 -- 2000 UNSC -- enhanced UNIFIL force after July/Aug 2006 crisis -- to monitor cessation hostilities -- to accompany & support Lebanese armed forces southern Lebanon -- assist humanitarian access civilians / displaced returns http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unifil/ UNIFIL statement: -- x3 rockets shot at Israel detected -- chief Luciano Portolano mediating -- b/w Lebanon & Israel to restore calm -- additional security ground troops deployed -- patrols intensified in co-ordination with LAF UNSC - UN Security Council -- UNIFIL, Luciano Porolano -- says: violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 -- wants to identify & arrest perps AFP - Agence France-Presse -- two sources: 1. Israeli military sources - re Galilee x1 rocket 2. unidentified 'Lebanese source' - claims Katyushas fired UNSC - RESOLUTION 1701 (2006) Calls for End of Hostilities Between: Hezbollah & Israel Permanent Ceasefire -- ceasefire based on: -- Creation of Buffer Zone Free of Armed Personnel -- {other than UN, Lebanese Forces} http://www.un.org/press/en/2006/sc8808.doc.htm -- 2006: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah -- said Lebanon would honour Resolution -- said once Israel ceases offensive, -- Hezbollah rockets on Israel will stop -- resolution required respect for Blue Line (Lebanon) -- border demarcation b/w Lebanon & Israel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Line_%28Lebanon%29 LAF - Lebanese Armed Forces -- military of Republic Lebanon army airforce navy motto: Honour, Sacrifice, Loyalty -- first formed 1600s -- under Prince Fakher el-Din II the Great -- major victory against Ottoman Empire Army -- Ottomans under lead of Pasha of Damascus -- Battle of Majdel Anjar -- 5,000 Lebanese vs 12,000 Syrians -- Lebanon captured Pasha of Damascus -- 1861 - 1914, no Turkish troops permitted -- to station within Lebanon boundary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Armed_Forces PFLP-GC Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC) -- small, Palestinian nationalist militant org -- based Syria -- founded 1968 by Ahmed Jibril -- 1970s & 1980s -- involved in Palestinian insurgency Southern Lebanon -- various BIG attacks against Israel -- Syrian 'civil war' -- fighting on side of Syrian govt -- groups paramilitary wing: Jihad Jibril Brigades https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_Front_for_the_Liberation_of_Palestine_%E2%80%93_General_Command ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Wanted to know more about Israeli bombing near Damascus. Trying to avoid Western sources.  Got onto this, as I initially thought I was onto a local paper.  Nope. AFP. Frenchies.  Potentially taking dictation from Israel? Went with it for fun, to see what they had. If the militant Palestinian group in Syria has claimed responsibility, I'd believe them, going by quick look of 1970s & 1980s events. Still don't know what excuse Israel used to bomb near Damascus. On re-reading, it looks like a total of x3 rockets detected (UNIFIL radars) and that's it for the rockets ... I think (I found it confusing the rockets thing a bit confusing). I haven't looked up the guy that got killed, but his group's 'resume' re big attacks is extensive (on Wikipedia). So was it a deliberate Israeli assassination? Brain's only in pictures mode right now (sort of going cross-eyed reading this), so I might have to let it be. The peacekeeping force in Lebanon since 1978 doesn't sound like a huge success if they're still there today (37 years). If Israel's bombing near Damascus, why are the Palestinian guys (allies of Syria) bombing back at Israel considered in violation of the UNSC resolution?   And I'm assuming it's them, as the article leaves us to guess as to who should be arrested and held responsible.  As in, it doesn't call for their arrest specifically, even tough the Palestinian militants have claimed responsibility. Somehow, I don't think these UN guys are going to have much luck with the UN peacekeeping law enforcement arrest-plan.  Katyusha | Катюша rocket launcher -- name adopted after WWII war song, 'Katyusa' -- roughly translated it's a:  'Katie' -- aka -- 'Stalinorgel' (Stalin's organ) -- launch sounds like a church organ -- wow, they're big -- I thought it was the hand-held jobs* -- these are the truck mounted ones *proof-reading this, I got a laugh at how clueless I am.  Imagined the hand-held launcher firing 'rockets' all the way to Israel.  HOW YOU SAY 'KATYUSHA' - AUDIO https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiFile:Ru-%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8E%D1%88%D0%B0.ogg The rhythm is different to an English rhythm, or maybe that's just the guy's 'audio voice'. more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyusha_rocket_launcher [Wow, what a huge waste of time this is.  It's just shifting things around.  Think I might have to stop doing this so much.  lol]

Syria - Russian and Iranian Troops - Jablah, Ghorin, Latakia

SOURCE http://www.debka.com/article/24883/First-Iranian-marines-land-in-Syria-link-up-with-newly-arrived-Russian-troops First Iranian marines land in Syria, link up with newly-arrived Russian troops DEBKAfile Exclusive Report September 11, 2015, 8:45 AM (IDT) Iran this week sent its first ground troops to Syria, around 1,000 marines and elite troops of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). They moved straight into Ghorin, a small military air facility just south of the port town of Latakia, and hooked up with the just-landed Russian marines at Jablah. Three weeks ago, DEBKA file began reporting on Russian-Iranian military intervention afoot for saving the Syrian ruler Bashar Assad, followed on September 1 by the first disclosure of the Russian buildup in Syria. Our military sources report now that Moscow is about to send a shipment of advanced S-300 air defense missile systems for deployment at Jablah, the base the Russians have built outside Latakia for the intake of the Russian troops. The S-300 systems will also shield the Iranian facility at Ghorin. Jablah has been converted into a busy depot for the Russian troops still arriving in Syria, combatants from units of Marine Brigades 810 and 336. Russian MiG-31 interceptor craft standing by at the Mezza airbase at Damascus airport offer the combined Russian-Iranian force air cover. To the west, the giant Dmitri Donskoy TK-20 nuclear submarine is on its way to Syrian waters. Latakia is therefore fast growing into a powerful Russian-Iranian military enclave, able to accommodate Assad and top regime officials if they are forced to leave Damascus. According to our military sources, it is too soon to determine the exact function of this enclave, whether defensive or, after settling in, the Russian and/or the Iranian forces are planning to go after Syrian rebel and Islamic State forces making gains in northern Syria. There is no evidence to bear out the curious briefing high-ranking defense sources gave Israeli military correspondents Thursday that the incoming Iranian troops have come to beef up the large-scale Syrian army-Hizballah units, who have been unsuccessfully battering away at the rebel fighters holding the key town of Zabadani for nearly two months. Our sources find the Iranian and Russian units fully occupied for now in expanding and outfitting their new quarters at Ghorin and Jablah. SOURCE http://www.debka.com/article/24883/First-Iranian-marines-land-in-Syria-link-up-with-newly-arrived-Russian-troops ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Jablah, Syria Russian built Russian military base combatants from units of Marine Brigades 810 and 336 Ghorin, Syria * near port town:  Latakia Iranian military facility 1,000 marines and elite troops /  Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Mezza airbase at Damascus airport Russian MiG-31 interceptor = combined Russian-Iranian force air cover Dmitri Donskoy TK-20 nuclear submarine heading to Syrian waters Latakia powerful Russian-Iranian military enclave = may accommodate Assad & officials if forced to leave Damascus Russian and/or the Iranian forces =  to target Syrian rebel & ISIS making gains in northern Syria Israeli reports that Russia & Iran troops are to beef up large-scale Syrian army-Hizballah are false   --  Hezbollah Lebanon-based leader:  Hassan Nasrallah since 1992 purportedly Iran's non-state proxy paramilitary wing of Lebanon political party:  Party of Allah (ie 'Hezbollah') formed following Israeli invasion of Lebanon 1982 formed by clerics, said to be funded by Iran *as a resistance to Israeli occupation *strong support among Lebanon Shia population a large number of alleged attacks attributed to Hezbollah / but these could be false flag more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT This is sooooooo exciting.   It's kind of like being a stay at home armchair general appraising the gathering of the troops on ancient battlegrounds. It looks like Assad isn't going down without an almighty fight. Israelis are typically doing a Hezbollah scare ... probably to justify bombing somewhere, to make sure that Golan Heights energy deal goes ahead.  In this battle, I'm backing Russia, Syria, Iran ... and, I guess, Hezbollah.  Stay tuned. I should probably add here, that my armchair 'support' in terms of the Middle East is somewhat confused and unreliable ... I swing from thinking I support this side or that, to supporting the Israelis ... who have a certain sort of charm that's hard to resist ... lol UPDATE Expect the above article is pro-US-agenda propaganda, to give the impression of an 'aggressive' Russia and Iran.   Explains what is really going on ... Assange Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money London  OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Link  |  here ꕤ