Israel warns Syria over Hezbollah attacks

Israel now considers Hezbollah part of the Syrian army and will respond to ballistic missile attacks by attacking Syria.

Source

Cyprus searches ship with arms bound for Hamas

Cyprus is searching Russian-owned vessel traveling from Iran possibly to Syria with arms for Hamas.

Source: DEBKAfile (Israel)

Iran using Venezuela to dodge sanctions

Iran is using Venezuela to ship missile components to Syria, circumventing U.N. sanctions. In return, Iran is sending IRGC and Quds Force commandos to train Venezuelan police and secret services.

Source: AFP

Syria revives plutonium production

Covert operation reveals Syria’s return to plutonium production for a clandestine military nuclear program. Facility is one of three suspected sites.

Source: DEBKAfile

Israel destroyed Syria’s plutonium project in September of 2007.

Questions raised over Syrian complicity in US raid

Washington sources say U.S. carried out special operations raid with Syrian cooperation. Intelligence cooperation with Syria has been on the rise. Syria may be relying on U.S. turning a blind eye to incursions into Lebanon.

Source: Times Online (UK)

Israeli military accuses Syria of arming Hezbollah

Israel accuses Syria of arming Hezbollah in violation of UN resolution.

Source: The Peninsula (Qatar)

Update: Syrian al Qaeda network decapitated by U.S. raid

Al Qaeda leader Abu Ghadiya was killed in US incursion into Syria, along with foreign fighter network’s entire senior leadership. Syria claims 8 civilians were killed, including women and children, however an AP reporter who witnessed the funeral only saw men. Network’s leadership had been openly living in Syria.

Source: Long War Journal

CIA paramilitary officers and Task Force 88 participated in the assault. Syria has ended high-level diplomacy with the US as a result of the attack. Iran has joined Syria in denouncing the attack.

Update: US Incursion into Syria

U.S. special operations forces entered Syria to capture Abu Ghadiya, a senior al Qaeda leader in charge of a Syrian network that funnels foreign fighters, weapons, and cash from Syria into Iraq. 9 killed and 14 wounded according to reports.

Source: The Long War Journal

U.S. military launches cross-border raid into Syria

U.S. military launches cross-border raid into Syria to shut down underground network of al Qaeda-linked foreign fighters. Foreign fighters entering Iraq is now 20; down 50% from 6 months ago and 1/5th of the 100 from 1 year ago. Foreign fighters bringing cash into Iraq accounted for 70% of al Qaeda’s budget in some areas of Iraq.

Source: World Council for the Cedars Revolution

Russia suspected of delivering secret arms to Hezbollah

Bulgarian customs discovers what appear to be missile tubes that were not on the cargo manifest. Cargo was bound for Syria, who would be in violation of UN resolution if they were supplying Hezbollah with arms.

Source: World Council for the Cedars Revolution