'An unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country': Russia concerned over reports of
Source: Independent
Full headline : 'An unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country': Russia concerned over reports of Israeli attack in Syria.
Russia said today it was very concerned about reports of an Israeli air attack deep inside Syria near Damascus and that any such action, if confirmed, would amount to unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country.
"If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Sources told Reuters yesterday that Israeli warplanes had bombed a convoy near Syria's border with Lebanon, apparently targeting weapons destined for Hezbollah in what some called a warning to Damascus not to arm Israel's Lebanese enemy.
Syrian state television accused Israel of bombing a military research centre at Jamraya, between Damascus and the nearby border. Syrian rebels disputed that, saying their forces had attacked the site.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/an-unacceptable-military-interference-in-the-warravaged-country-russia-concerned-over-reports-of-israeli-attack-in-syria-8474323.html
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To hear Israel, the target was a convoy of trucks loaded with SA-17 antiaircraft missiles headed into Lebanon bearing a gift to Hezbollah. However, that makes no sense because the missiles are all but useless without 3 different types of specialized tracked vehicles: launchers, long-range radar, and a command unit. See, 
What appears to have actually happened is that the Israelis attacked an antiaircraft unit along with a military installation in Zabadani, which is about 30 kms NW of Damascus, about mid-way to Beirut. According to the Syrians, the actual target was the installation that they claim was destroyed by three waves of Israeli fighter-bombers. If true, it was probably the first wave that destroyed the anti-aircraft missile unit.
The story about Syria handing Hezbollah missiles looks like a cover story. If the IAF attacked a "convoy" near the border with Lebanon, it seems much more likely that one of Syria's mobile air defense units was in the area or the flight path to the target -- whatever that might have been, we aren't being told -- perhaps in anticipation of an Israel air strike. It appears both sides may have been onto something, there.
It isn't at all obvious on its face that the missiles were necessarily going to be a gift to Lebanese Hezbollah. Approach with extreme caution.