President wants to talk Turkey, instead gets peppered with questions over scandals facing his administration.
Israel’s air strikes against targets in Syria this weekend may signal the beginning of wider Israeli involvement in the two-year-old civil war that Syrian rebels have waged against the Assad regime. A Syrian official warned Sunday that Israel “will suffer” in retaliation for attacks that apparently targeted weapons shipments and a military research facility near Damascus.
James FoleyCredit: Agence France Presse
The family of missing U.S. journalist James Foley released a statement Friday claiming “with a very high degree of confidence” that he was being held in a Syrian prison.
The civil war in Syria has been spilling into US headlines lately, especially since allegations of chemical weapon use have thrown a spotlight on President Obama. Here are 6 heartbreaking human rights crises that aren’t making it onto the evening news.
President Obama’s Syria “red line” is here. Will he act on it?
Yesterday we reported at ViralRead that Isreali soliders have been fired upon by Syrian forces, injuring two Israeli soldiers. In response, Israel has fired guided missiles into Syria, destroying a military post. “We take the firing at IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] forces in Israeli territory very seriously,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon announced.
It remains unclear whether the weekend’s shots were targeting Israel or spillover from the Syrian civil war. However, Ya’alon blamed the Syrian government. “We view the Syrian regime as responsible for every breach of sovereignty,” Ya’alon said. “We will not allow the Syrian army or any other element to violate Israel’s sovereignty by shooting into our territory.”
This comes on the heels of reports last week that anti-regime Syrian rebels have seized control of several Syrian towns on the border with the Golan Heights.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz today moved to tamp down worries that the Jewish state is under threat. “It’s quiet, safe, and beautiful,” Gantz told the Jerusalem Post. He urged Israelis to not change their plans to visit the Golan Heights for Passover, calling it “no less important,” and adding “we must not disrupt the routine of our lives because of one incident or another.
Gateway Pundit has a feed going on his site reporting live that Syria’s Leader Bashar Al-Assad has indeed been shot by his own bodyguard. He is reporting the various news agencies in the region who are reporting the different aspects of this story.
Reuters is reporting that Israel has fired upon and destroyed a machine gun position in the Golan Heights. It is unclear at this moment whether this is merely spillover from the Syrian civil war or whether this is a new front opening for Israel in the middle east.
The AP is reporting 2 dead after what appears to be a suicide bomber attack at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
This marks the second U.S. Embassy attack in less than 6 months. On September 11, 2012, the U.S. Embassy in Libya was attacked, leaving 4 Americans dead.
The attack, adds to an already tense situation in the Middle East. As conditions continue to deteriorate in Syria, Turkey has become increasingly alarmed, as well as vocal against Syrian President, Bashar Hafez al-Assad. Most recently, Turkey has put into operation several Patriot missiles under NATO command.
In an effort to relieve tensions, Vice President Biden will focus heavily on Syria as he embarks on his European tour. Biden is scheduled to meet with Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib in Munich, Germany.
Via Reuters, early this morning -
A western diplomat has confirmed an Israeli air strike on the Syrian-Lebanon border.
As the unrest continues in Syria, Israel has become increasingly alarmed over the country’s stockpile of chemical and conventional weapons.
