Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., April 05, 2008 Adar2 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:58 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Reuters) Last update - 21:46 03/04/2008 Report: Syria confirms listening in on IDF with Iran's help By News Agencies Tags: Syria, Israel  Israeli officials' reported comments that Tehran has been building listening stations in Syria to intercept Israeli military communications were confirmed in Damascus but denied by Iran, an Arab newspaper said Thursday. A Syrian member of parliament, Mohammed Habash, told the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat that the listening stations in Syria were no secret. "Syria is doing all it could to defend its territory and is turning to military experts for help," said Habash, who heads parliament's Syrian-Iranian relations committee. Advertisement "We are still at war with Israel. We have the right to defend our borders with all means within international law," Habash added. The real objective of Syrian cooperation with Russia, China and Iran is to protect the country's borders, the lawmaker said. Israeli security officials reportedly said Iran has built a number of listening stations in Syria months ago. "I want to tell the Israelis that they do not really know what Syria has. Their expectations may be far below what is being done in Syria to face any foolishness that Israel may commit," Habash said. On Tuesday, top security officials said Israel is taking new precautions because of the listening stations. Israel Defense Forces top brass won't be allowed to bring their mobile phones into rooms where classified information is being discussed, the officials said. Also, IDF generals will be assigned special areas on bases to conduct personal conversations. That way, listening stations won't be able to hear sensitive conversations that might be going on in the background while generals talk on their cellular phones, they explained. Despite Syria's confirmation, the media advisor at the Iranian embassy in Damascus denied reported Israeli official statement about Iranian-built listening stations in Syria. "This is not the first time that Israeli sources give false news," the embassy official told al-Sharq al-Awsat. "How could Iran build those stations in Syria? Which company built them? We have no capabilities to do this in Syria," the unnamed official said. Any cooperation between Syrian and Iranian private firms in telephone and cell phone projects is taken by Western media to be listening stations, the diplomat said. "But if Syria built listening stations, then it would have the right to in the same way Israel does," he added. Military officials say Iran helped Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas pick up Israeli radio communications during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Several months ago, all radio communications were ordered to be encrypted, security officials said. Related articles: Israel fears Syrian army moves may signal Hezbollah attack IDF Deputy Chief vows 'painful' response to any attack on Israel Intelligence officers: Hezbollah may strike Israel via third party ANALYSIS / Nasrallah threatened punishment for Mughniyah, not revenge Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bread will abound J'lem court allows pizzerias, bakeries to sell leavened products during Passover. The looking glass A T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy.   1.   Listening in on? 17:01  |  David Nigel Braham 03/04/08   2.   Miltary Experts? 17:30  |  Oleg 03/04/08   3.   "Listening In" 17:31  |  Mark Lincoln 03/04/08   4.   Does he know what Syria has? Apparently not; vis Sept 6th bombing 17:39  |  Romano 03/04/08   5.   Does he know what Syria has? Apparently not; vis Sept 6th bombing 17:39  |  Romano 03/04/08   6.   Iranian lies 18:29  |  Abdul Aziz 03/04/08   7.   Syrian policy agaist most of Arab world continue 18:30  |  Abu Yusuf 03/04/08   8.   the more they listen, the less they know 20:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/04/08   9.   Nobody but Israeli military types understand army slang 20:41  |  x-ray 03/04/08   10.   Right on, Cipora 20:50  |  Stephen in New York 03/04/08   11.   Eye for an Eye 21:10  |  Sadiq M 03/04/08   12.   Underestimating your enemy is a bad thing. 21:43  |  John 03/04/08   13.   Hope Assad Is Listening When He Hears 22:03  |  Kipperraes 03/04/08   14.   x-ray If you listen long enough 22:38  |  Mark Lincoln 03/04/08   15.   Iran Government is biggest liar in the world 23:33  |  Mahmoud Akbar 03/04/08   16.   Some thoughts about listenning in 23:36  |  Max Zamir 03/04/08   17.   #14 01:37  |  marvin 04/04/08   18.   #11 - Sadiq calls for blindness 01:44  |  William 04/04/08   19.   can israel prove it? 02:32  |  SomeGuy 04/04/08   20.   One has to wonder 02:55  |  Mark Lincoln 04/04/08   21.   Are the editors fools? 02:56  |  Mark Lincoln 04/04/08   22.   I hope Assad is listening to me singing in the bath 03:19  |  Free Gilad Shalit 04/04/08   23.   Superiority can`t remain for ever 11:34  |  Manuel 04/04/08   24.   Syria The Leader 17:41  |  Omar 04/04/08   25.   #20, Mark Lincoln 18:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/04/08

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