Syria

The Syrian civil war between President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces, including ISIS, has been ongoing since 2011. Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia are all on the ground in Syria fighting to support the Syrian regime against ISIS and many other rebels. This confluence of several different enemies, some religious radicals and others secular, has produced a muddy conflict with no good possible outcomes. Israel, on Syria’s southern border, has stayed out of the war except for occasional targeted strikes when Israel’s security was threatened, and humanely treating those wounded in the conflict. On February 10, 2018, Iranian forces stationed in Syria invaded Israel’s air space with a drone, provoking Israel to respond by shooting the UAV out of the sky and attacking the vehicle on the ground in Syria operating the drone. During the course of Israel’s counterattack, Syrian anti-aircraft missiles shot down an Israeli F-16 and injured two pilots. The IDF responded by destroying 4 Syrian command posts and 8 Iranian command posts in Syria. This incident showed that Iran and its allies in Syria are spoiling for a fight with Israel.

Issues Syria

Israeli hospital gets grant to treat Syrian kid’s hearing loss

A six-figure donation from Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn is going to Ziv Medical Center in Safed (Tzfat) to fund treatment of hearing loss among Syrian children brought from conflict areas to Israel for medical care.

The hospital near the border with Syria, recently visited by celebrity Conan O’Brien, has extensive experience treating…

Iran Syria

Netanyahu to Putin: Israel will act if needed against Iran in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israel was willing to act to prevent a continued Iranian military presence in Syria, during a three-hour meeting between the two leaders in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“Most of the discussion dealt with Iran’s attempt to establish a foothold in…

Syria

Syrian Dictator Assad Secretly Hosted Argentine and Iranian Foreign Ministers in AMIA Bombing Coverup, Ex-Ambassador Testifies

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with then-Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman in Damascus in 2011. Timerman finalized the AMIA cover-up with his Iranian counterpart during the same trip. Photo: File.

News outlets in Argentina were abuzz on Wednesday with speculation that the country’s former president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and…

Syria

Six Day Way – Syrian Front

In the years and months leading up to the 1967 war, Syria had played a crucial role in raising tensions by engaging in acts of sabotage and incessantly shelling Israeli communities. The second half of 1966 and spring of 1967 saw increasing friction and incidents between the IDF and Syrian forces. In response to a false Soviet warning on May 13,…

Issues Syria

Breaking Down the Syrian Civil War

Issues Syria

Part 2: With Middle East Expert Avi Melamed on Israel’s Golan Heights

Issues Syria

Part 1: With Middle East Expert Avi Melamed on Israel’s Golan Heights

Issues Syria

The Watchman on the Syrian Border

Syria

Israel-Syria Negotiations

Following the Madrid Conference, talks between Israeli and Syrian delegations commenced in Washington under the framework of the Madrid formula. During 1994, negotiations were held on the ambassadorial level in Washington. These talks led to focused discussions on security arrangements and the convening of two meetings between the Israeli and…