Last update - 00:00 24/10/2007
Report: Syria prepared itself for IAF strike about two weeks ago
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Syria two week ago prepared itself for a possible military confrontation with Israel, the United Arab Emirates-based daily Al-Khaleej reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, Syria had expected Israel to carry out a wide attack on its territory during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations earlier month.
Syrian officials close to the affair told the newspaper that there was a possibility of a military confrontation erupting between the two countries, despite the calming messages Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been sending Syria through various mediators.
The preparations for confrontation dominated the conversations between Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkish officials during the former's visit to Ankara last week, according to the report. The Turkish deputy chief of stag assured Syria that Ankara would not let Israel Air Force planes to return to Syrian territory.
The report also said that Russia and China had warned Israel and the United States against such a possible attack, which it said would have taken the conflict out of the Middle East. According to the report, Russia asked Washington to quickly intervene and "control Olmert's government."
Tensions between the two countries have risen over the last few months, since the IAF carried out an attack on a site within Syrian territory on September 6.
Media reports have speculated that the IAF targeted a North Korean nuclear facility in its air strike on Syria last month. Neither Israel nor Syria has confirmed these speculations.
Related articles: