Israel-Lebanon, Israel-Iran Conflict Update
Iranian Soldiers on the ground in Lebanon helping Hezbollah:
A Hizbullah strike on the IDF warship off the Lebanese coast damaged the ship severely, and the IDF confirmed early Saturday to The Jerusalem Post that four sailors had gone missing from the damaged warship.
An IDF investigation into the attack showed that Hizbullah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.
A senior IDF intelligence official says that Iran has approximately 100 soldiers in Lebanon and that they helped Hizbullah hit an Israel Navy ship with an anti-ship missile.
Story by the Jerusalem Post. This is the second report that Iranian Revolutionary Guard are operating alongside Hezbollah's fighters. Interestingly, the Washington Post reported, back in April 2005, that most of Iran's troops left Lebanon leaving a mere 12 to 15 military personnel in the country:
Iran has pulled out the vast majority of its Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon after two decades as a major player among the country's Shiite population, most notably as the impetus for the creation of Hezbollah, according to U.S. and European officials.
At one point, Iran was estimated to have as many as 2,000 of its elite troops inside Lebanon. But today Tehran is reported to have from 12 to 50 military personnel in the country — and probably on the lower end of that range, the officials said.
Israel issues Syria an ultimatum (via YNETNEWS):
The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that "Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences."
The report said "a senior Pentagon source warned that should the Arab world and international community fail in the efforts to convince Syria to pressure Hizbullah into releasing the soldiers and halt the current escalation Israel may attack targets in the country."
Israel has no plans to attack Syria (via Haaretz.com):
Responding to a report in a pan-Arab daily newspaper that Israel presented Damascus with an ultimatum, an Israel Defense Forces officer said Saturday that targeting Syria is currently not on Israel's agenda.
"We're not a gang that shoots in every direction," the officer said. "It won't be right to bring Syria into the campaign."
Hezbollah has Launched more than 500 Missiles into Israel (via DEBKAfile):
July 14, 2006, 11:20 PM (GMT+02:00)
Haifa had its first rocket attack Thursday, causing no casualties. Residents of the metropolitan area of Israel’s third largest city are told to stay in protected areas Friday night.
Hizballlah’s arsenal supplied by Iran includes the Katyusha rockets Hizballah has fired till now with a range of up to 30km, its improved version, the Grad 333mm, which has the same range but a larger warhead. The range of Fajjar-5 is up to 70km, while Zalzal-2 can reach targets at a distance of 200km. Hizballah claims to have taken delivery of a more advanced Fajjar, but this is not confirmed.
More than 500 rockets have hit dozens of Katyusha hit towns and villages of northern Israel in 48 hours leaving 4 dead, scores injured, between 1-2 million people in shelters for the third night and heavy damage to property.
Hezbollah Missile Stocks in Underground Fortress at Naama 30 km South of Beirut (via DEBKAfile):
Our sources also report that immediately after Nasrallah’s statement to the media, Hizballah’s leaders went into hiding, their bases were evacuated and their fighting strength transferred to pre-planned places of concealment. Ahead of the abduction, Hizballah ordnance and missile stocks were transferred to the Palestinian Ahmed Jibril’s tunnel system at Naama, 30 km south of Beirut, which was built in the 1980s by East German engineers.
There's more…
Iranian National Security Adviser Ali Larjani is in Damascus while the Syrian army has been put on a state of "preparedness":
July 13, 2006, 11:46 AM (GMT+02:00)
Larijani is also Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator. He will remain in Damascus for the duration of the crisis in line with the recently Iranian-Syrian mutual defense pact. His presence affirms that an Israeli attack on Syria will be deemed an assault on Iran. It also links the Israeli hostage crisis to Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West.
The White House released a statement holding Syria and Iran responsible for Hizballah abduction and demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
The Syrian army has been put on a state of preparedness.
Israel deploys patriot missile system in Haifa (via YNETNEWS):
For the first time since the Gulf War the IDF has stationed two Patriot Missile batteries in Haifa. The Patriots missile is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missile.