U.S. and Israeli Officials Planning Possible Syria Action
by JNS.org
JNS.org– Israeli and American officials are working closely behind the scenes on possible strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s unconventional weapons arsenal, according to a report in Time magazine.
Last week, President Obama concluded Assad had used chemical weapons, notably sarin gas, against rebel forces over the past year, confirming previous statements from Israeli officials in April. Obama had noted last year that Assad’s use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line” and trigger a stronger American response. As a result, Obama announced the U.S. would step up aid to Syrian rebels.
But according to Time, the U.S., Israel and regional allies, Turkey and Jordan, are working closely on a more intense engagement in Syria.
“Things are happening behind the scenes,” one Israeli official told Time. “Things are really happening.”
“Israeli and U.S. military officials are coordinating how to target and destroy Assad’s arsenal of unconventional weapons under assorted scenarios,” according to Time.
The scenarios include “operations on the estimated 18 depots and other sites where WMDs are stored” as well as another that would remove Assad, “be it by flight, death or if he simply disappears.”