Israel Determined to Strike Iranian Weapons in Syria

Israeli soldiers participate in military exercises in the Golan. (AFP)
Israeli soldiers participate in military exercises in the Golan. (AFP)
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Israel Determined to Strike Iranian Weapons in Syria

Israeli soldiers participate in military exercises in the Golan. (AFP)
Israeli soldiers participate in military exercises in the Golan. (AFP)

Although the Israeli authorities have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the bombing in Syria, military sources in Tel Aviv said that the Iranian convoy that was bombed two days ago near the Iraqi-Syrian border “was carrying weapons and ammunition, not just oil, as Tehran claims.”

The sources said that Tehran, “which received severe blows in the destruction of arms convoys in several Syrian airports, especially Damascus International Airport, has returned to transport [weapons] by land.”

They added that the Iranians “tried to hide these weapons through a civilian convoy, in the hope that Israeli intelligence would not discover them.”

According to the sources, the regime of Bashar al-Assad has probably “asked Tehran to stop the transfer of weapons, because the Israeli strikes destroyed most of the Syrian military industries.”

But Iran “insists on sending missile warheads to its factories in Syria and Lebanon, in order to ensure the continuation of the missile industry and improve its accuracy,” they remarked.

“Tel Aviv insists on sending clear messages to all players on Syrian soil that it will not allow the transfer of weapons in any form. It is trying to carry out its raids in the eastern regions of Syria, before reaching the west, where the Russian army is located. It takes into account that Moscow is angry with Tel Aviv for its stance on the war in Ukraine,” the sources noted.

According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, the Israeli military leaders are conducting in-depth deliberations on the possible reaction from Russia, which has so far been silent or just issued political criticism in one out of three or four raids.

These leaders have asked the Israeli ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the Russian position through diplomatic channels, the sources said.



Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated on Friday that Iraq has received explicit threats from Israel, adding that the country’s armed forces have been instructed by the prime minister to prevent any attacks originating from Iraqi territory.

According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed the armed forces to take action against anyone launching attacks from the country. The foreign minister emphasized that Iraq does not seek war and aims to avoid its dangers, noting that the region is “on fire” and facing “clear threats from Israel.”

The agency also reported that the Iraqi government has requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council to address Israeli threats. Iraq’s permanent representative to the Arab League submitted a request for a session at the level of permanent representatives of member states to confront what was described as menaces from the “Zionist entity.”

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that he had sent a message to the president of the UN Security Council urging immediate action against activities of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Sa’ar asserted that the Iraqi government bears responsibility for any actions occurring within or emanating from its territory.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials have expressed pessimism about the outcome of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Nevertheless, they emphasized Baghdad’s commitment to supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and security.

Speaking at the American University Forum in Duhok on Friday, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani highlighted that the challenges facing Iraq have fundamentally changed since October 7.

He described the current situation in the Middle East as a “second Nakba”, stressing that the challenges stem from the failure of the international system, which he described as “ambiguous.”

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid stated that Iraq would play its role in promoting peace in the Middle East and expressed his full support for efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue in Türkiye.

Speaking at the Duhok Forum, Rashid said that Iraq and the region are facing circumstances that require all parties to closely monitor the situation and find appropriate solutions to ongoing problems, emphasizing the need for lasting peace and security.

Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, called for Iraq to remain neutral in the conflict, saying: “The crises in the region and the scenes of war in Lebanon and Gaza are tragic. We hope this suffering will come to an end.”

“We are all awaiting changes following the US presidential election. All indications suggest that a Trump administration will adopt a different approach compared to President Biden’s policies,” he added.

The Iraqi government has stated that under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with the United States, Washington is responsible for “deterring and responding to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.”

According to media reports, the US has informed Baghdad that Israeli military strikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless Baghdad prevents Iran-backed factions from launching attacks against Israel.