Tag Archives: Syria
18 July 2013
The Telegraph reported that the UK Prime Minister David Cameron had abandoned plans to arm the Syrian opposition due to warnings by military chiefs.
Senior military figures had reportedly warned the Prime Minister that sending small arms and missiles to the opposition would not have an impact on the turnout of the conflict. They moreover warned that the arms could end up in the hands of extremists thereby harming Britain’s long-term security, while a broader intervention could embroil Britain in a prolonged conflict. However, Foreign Secretary William Hague was reported stating that the UK could still arm the rebels and no option has been ruled out yet.
Source: The Telegraph | David Cameron warned arming Syrian rebels could embroil Britain in all-out war
Source: The Telegraph | Britain could still arm the Syrian rebels, William Hague says
17 July 2013
The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari was reported stating on Monday that Iraq needed the help of the international community to stop Iranian weapons transfers to the Assad government in Syria that violate UN Security Council resolutions banning weapons imports and exports to and from Iran.
Zebari condemned the use of Iraqi airspace by Iran to conduct the weapons transfers, but emphasized that the Iraqi military could do nothing to stop them and called on the international community to enforce the relevant Security Council resolutions. In 2012, the Iraqi Prime minister, under US pressure, closed the air corridor used by Iran for arms transfers but the flights were renewed shortly, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Source: Reuters | Iraq foreign minister says can't stop Iran arms flights to Syria
Source: The Jerusalem Post | Iraq says Iran weapons flights to Syria cannot be stopped without West's help
17 July 2013
In an interview with CBS television, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his policy of keeping dangerous arms from reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon. While refusing to confirm or deny reported Israeli involvement in the attack on a Syrian missile depot on July 5, Netanyahu said Israel would stand by its policy of preventing the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups.
Israel has repeatedly maintained it would take action to prevent “game-changing weapons”, including advanced guided missiles, from reaching hostile militant groups. Following an Israeli airstrike on Damascus in May, President Assad vowed to retaliate if Israel struck Syrian territory again, but has not commented on the July attack.
Source: ABC News | Israeli Leader Vows to Keep Weapons From Hezbollah
17 July 2013
The Sunday Times reported that Israeli submarines are responsible for the attack on the missile depot in Latakia, Syria on 5 July. US officials were reported saying that the attack was an Israeli airstrike.
The alleged naval strike was reportedly coordinated with Pentagon that has expressed concerns over the Russian anti-ship missiles in Syria that could pose a threat to Israel’s naval forces and be used against Western ships transporting supplies to the opposition. Neither Israel nor the US has commented on the attack. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Netanyahu was reportedly insisting on Sunday that he would not allow the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Source: The Sunday Times | Israelis strike at Syrian missiles
Source: The New York Times | Israel Airstrike Targeted Advanced Missiles That Russia Sold to Syria, U.S. Says
Source: RT | Israeli submarine responsible for July attack on Syrian arms depot - report
1 July 2013
The New York Times reported on Saturday on the aggressive role taken by Qatar in using a shadowy arms network, involving transit through Turkey, Libyan stockpiles, and Chinese-made shoulder-fired missiles that could, according to warnings by US officials, be used to shoot down civilian aircraft if found at the hands of terrorist organizations.
When supplying the rebels in Libya, Qatar was reportedly giving weapons to Islamic militants, and similar concerns have now been raised with regard to Syria, where the Qatari shipments have enabled the Islamists in the north to become the most capable section of the opposition, the New York Times writes. The small oil-rich gulf state has purportedly taken an outsize role in Syria in order to pursue its interests this ‘backyard’ thereby increasing its influence in the Middle East, without its Western and Arab allies having been able to leverage its policies due to their own strategic alliances with the state.
Source: The New York Times | Taking Outsize Role in Syria, Qatar Funnels Arms to Rebels