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Last update - 22:27 02/04/2008
IDF Deputy Chief vows 'painful' response to any attack on Israel
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: Hezbollah, IDF, Syria, Israel

Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Dan Harel on Wednesday warned Israel's enemies not to attack, saying "anyone who tries to harm Israel must remember that it is the strongest country in the region, and retaliation will be powerful and painful."

Harel's words came during a briefing for reporters at a Tel Aviv army base, hours after London-based Arabic-language daily Al Quds al-Arabi reported that the Syrian army was calling up part of its reserves over fears of an IDF offensive.

Harel dismissed forecasts of increased tension between Israel and Syria, saying "I don't see any reason for unusual tension in the north, and I don't think that either side, be it this one or that, is interested in a military conflict."
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The daily also reported that Syria is closely following Israeli military activity along the Syrian border, and that Damascus is operating under the assumption that Israel is laying the groundwork for war with Syria.

In recent weeks, several media sources have reported that the Syrian army has deployed armored divisions and infantry units near Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

According to the reoprt, Syrian military intelligence estimates that Israeli forces will attempt to infiltrate from the Bekaa Valley area, regarded as a 'soft spot' on the border.

Last week, London-based Arabic-language daily Al-Hayat also reported that the Syrian army was calling up reserve units.

Meanwhile, Israeli security officials have said that Iran has set up sophisticated listening stations in Syria in recent months to intercept Israeli military communications.

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    Lost giant
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      1.   Sounds like fun! 11:33  |  Analyst 02/04/08
      2.   Where are you going to hide Anylst? 11:43  |  Alex 02/04/08
      3.   Sounds like Hezb are ready to attack... 11:58  |  Israeli 02/04/08
      4.   same exact headline for 35 years (yawn). 12:10  |  vizter 02/04/08
      5.   Sorry, dear Analyst... but: 12:16  |  Grandma 02/04/08
      6.   I hope it doesn`t clash with the Olympics 12:45  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/04/08
      7.   At least the Syrian Army will be ready. 13:27  |  Stephen. 02/04/08
      8.   We just saw 13:33  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/08
      9.   Watch out Syria 14:13  |  Joseph 02/04/08
      10.   WHO IS AFRAID OF THE SYRIANS 14:34  |  psi 02/04/08
      11.   What goons 14:35  |  military analyst 02/04/08
      12.   The Mafia state of El-Assad 14:44  |  Jean Van Daem 02/04/08
      13.   Iran machinating its tentacles 14:47  |  Brod 02/04/08
      14.   Linthwaite says people being killed is just another sport 15:18  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      15.   To Alex 15:35  |  Oleg 02/04/08
      16.   To Margie in Tel Aviv 15:36  |  Oleg 02/04/08
      17.   same same different different style 15:49  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      18.   Markey Mark`s curiosity 16:30  |  PantherJet 02/04/08
      19.   Israel Needs War 16:45  |  Joe 02/04/08
      20.   Joe 16:55  |  Bill 02/04/08
      21.   To the two clowns 19,20 17:17  |  Oleg 02/04/08
      22.   Oleg the fat lady did her song 17:28  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      23.   Syria reserves 17:48  |  David 02/04/08
      24.   Syria reserves 17:51  |  David 02/04/08
      25.   To reza SHAH 17:53  |  Oleg 02/04/08
      26.   not at all david rather feeling sorry for a fellow human being 18:52  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      27.   I`ll huff and I`ll puff and I`ll blow your house down! 20:51  |  Natallie Durson 02/04/08
      28.   Time for Syria to be generous with Israel. 21:04  |  Jean Van Daem 02/04/08
      29.   who is the coward ? 21:18  |  North American 02/04/08
      30.   TALK 21:23  |  JOJO (USA) 02/04/08
      31.   NDURSON You in California talk tough.Nasrallah is in hiding 21:45  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      32.   To Natallie Durson 21:48  |  Oleg 02/04/08
      33.   to North American 21:50  |  Darie 02/04/08
      34.   answer this quiz 21:54  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      35.   Israel will retaliate against Syria+l Army 21:55  |  Zev 02/04/08
      36.   #29 21:57  |  Sol 02/04/08
      37.   If you`re gonna shoot, shoot! BUT STOP TALKING 21:58  |  Sarita 02/04/08
      38.   North American # 29 22:02  |  dovale 02/04/08
      39.   No. 8 Mark Lincoln 22:07  |  Steve 02/04/08
      40.   Your right Natalie, Israel should carry a very big stick! 22:25  |  Avi 02/04/08
      41.   Oleg the fat lady did her song#2 22:27  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      42.   Joe, Bill, Durson, et al of Opposition 22:32  |  Zev 02/04/08
      43.   Iran is itching for a war 22:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/04/08
      44.   8 Mark Lincoln,the real target is Iran! Bush&Cheney have not 22:59  |  lakshmi 02/04/08
      45.   Use nukes this time 23:09  |  Motke 02/04/08
      46.   Learn the signs from the book first 23:33  |  Abdul Aziz 02/04/08
      47.   Syrians and their friends did not learn from the book 23:41  |  Abdul aziz higazi 02/04/08
      48.   Israel refuses to defend itself against genocidal Islamists 00:19  |  Get a clue! 03/04/08
      49.   ATTACK FROM WHERE? 00:20  |  GIDEON 03/04/08
      50.   19: counterfactual--somehow Israel avoids war 00:21  |  Paul Freedman 03/04/08
      51.   #27: I`m sure not 00:23  |  Paul Freedman 03/04/08
      52.   Now, Israel is not satisfied with the classification 00:36  |  Andreas 03/04/08
      53.   # 12 Jean 00:43  |  Axel 03/04/08
      54.   # 43 motke 00:48  |  Axel 03/04/08
      55.   Just Nuke It. 00:51  |  Vik 03/04/08
      56.   Less talk and a more quiet "simple" message... 01:11  |  bat yam 03/04/08
      57.   GET READY FOR YOM KIPPUR TWO 01:32  |  Jeff Chariff 03/04/08
      58.   LEST WE FORGET`` 01:34  |  will 03/04/08
      59.   Sharpen the Atom Bombs 01:34  |  Simeon ben Jacob 03/04/08
      60.   Israel postures at Syria, but wont kill Hamas?? 02:08  |  *yawn* 03/04/08
      61.   A WAR WITH SYRIA WILL END UP WITH A NUKE ON DAMASCUS 02:45  |  Joey 03/04/08
      62.   There wont be a nuke in Damascus. Why no nuke in Gaza?? 04:20  |  *yawn* 03/04/08
      63.   response to Cipora Julianna Kohn 18:03  |  rpa 03/04/08
      64.   #63, Iranians are not Arabs 20:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/04/08
      65.   to cipora kohen 22:57  |  reza SHAH 03/04/08
      66.   How Israel will "defend" itself... 01:59  |  PADDY 04/04/08
      67.   Enough of Barking Arabs. 18:01  |  Mideasternr. 05/04/08
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