Israel’s Only Enemies Are Invented Ones
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
The last time Israel faced enemies was during the October 6 – 25, 1973 Yom Kippur war, none since then except invented ones – the way Washington unjustifiably justifies its imperial aggression.
Iran has military advisors in Syria, not troops or bases, nothing threatening Israeli or regional security. Sergey Lavrov called Iran’s presence in Syria entirely “legitimate.”
Russia has its own military advisory mission in the country, part of its war on terrorists Washington and Israel support.
According to analyst Ghassan Kadi, “Iran’s military presence in Syria is in adherence to the common defense treaty it has with” Damascus.
Its military mission is defensive, given US/Israeli hostility it faces. Its military advisory personnel operate from Syrian bases, none of its own.
Kadi believes it wants defensive “rocket-launching capabilities” in Syria, close to Israel’s border and major cities – as a deterrent against possible IDF aggression, not for preemptive war on the country.
North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs are for the same purpose, a deterrent against feared US aggression, giving Washington pause about attacking a nation able to strike back hard, including against US regional forces.
IDF Northern Command head General Yoel Strick lied, claiming “Iran wants to establish a forward operating base in Syria whose goal is attacking Israel,” adding:
“We will not allow it. We will not allow Israeli citizens to be threatened. We will not allow Iran to threaten the stability of the entire region.”
“We are not inclined toward escalation, but we have high-level capabilities and we will not hesitate to use them.”
“That’s how we’ve operated in the past, that’s how we operated yesterday and that’s how we’ll respond to any threat, when needed.”
Since its 1948 creation, Iran never attacked Israel, never threatened it except in response to its hostile rhetoric.
Washington and Israel threatened Iran numerous times, prompting strong responses, warning them of its capability to hit back hard in self-defense if attacked.
Israeli General Yaniv Assur, new IDF Operations Division head, claimed “Hezbollah and Iran are trying to entrench themselves in the area, which could be seen this past Saturday” – only for self-defense, he failed to explain, adding:
Israeli attacks on Syrian territory Saturday “sent a clear message to our enemies. We are determined to defend our sovereignty and respond with force and wisdom to any threat.”
No threats exist. Israeli attacks on multiple Syrian targets Saturday and earlier constituted naked aggression against a sovereign independent nation threatening no one.
Israel and Washington’s regional presence menace regional and world peace.
General Amit Fisher was appointed to replace Assur as Northern Command Bashan Division head.
Commenting on his new assignment, he said Israeli military forces, including reservists, must prepare “for the ultimate test – the test of war” – coming only if Israel launches it preemptively.
It faces no threat of attack by Iran, Syria or any other countries. Its warnings otherwise aim to stoke fear ahead of whatever belligerence it intends ahead.
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