Israel must topple Assad in next conflict with Syria proxies

that gassed his own people? Of course he was, read all about it What Happened in Kurdish Halabja?Dec 22, 2004 ... Those are: Najmaldin Karim, Omar Halmat, Birusk Tugan, Osman Baban, Asad Khailany, Kendal Nezan, ... The gassing took place on 16 March and onwards; ... Iraq - and how large was the death toll knowing the Iranian army was in Halabja ... We say Saddam is a monster, a maniac who gassed his own people, ... www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/.../37420.html -

to attrack attention to herself, using any means to do so You may notice, if you ever get the guts to make the promised trip, then when you board a plane, they tell you to turn off your cellphone because of possible interference with electronics on board Since the IPOD was new to Israel, they felt best to sequester them until the could be evaluated for possible interference with Isreli electronics After checking the IPODS, they were cleared for release to their owners, of course you wouldn't have noticed that, you were too busy stirring up trouble Palestinian's can blame themselves for their economic difficulties, they did want to get along with the Jews, who have a thring economy, while they're still fighting wars they lost and leaders that act in their own selfish interests

Brig. Gen. (Res.) Oded Tira has outlined a very clear and comprehensive analysis of what must be done should Syria choose to continue arming terrorists. As one of the many Christian Zionists who strongly support Israel, I lend my voice of support to measures that would deter any such attacks on Israel. The vast majority of Americans strongly stand with and support Israel, regardless of what the current US Administration is saying or does. USA Polls overwhelmingly show this support. Israel must do all within its' power to protect and defend itself against all enemies who seek to destroy Her.

You ask who will run the country after Assad is deposed. I think that is the wrong question. When Assad starts behaving more and more like an Islamic terrorist a point will be reached where there will be little perceived difference between him and anyone else who wants to grab power. I would suggest that Assad is fast approaching that point. Who and how will the country be run? That will be up to the Syrians.

Haven't bothered to read this piece I confess. The headline's enough. Toppling people has really worked in the past hasn't it. That's why the process is recommended again and again. Read "The Dragon's Teeth. Why don't we learn from our mistakes? God only knows!

Israel has tried everything, sabotaging Palestinian agriculture and tourism/commerce... the iPad confiscation didn't work (Israelis are now free to buy cheaper in the States)... when Israel needs to boost its economy, what does Israel do - has a war, under the guise of security!

The IDF has proven that it is best with dealing with crowd control and blockade than war. Three generations of working at road blocks and guarding settlements has made for an army of huff and puff. The Israeli army has shown their lack of prowess; in Lebanon...twice. The abiltity to successfully bomb into regime change in Syria is as far fetched as an Iran attack that stops the NBC weapons. The Israeli aiforce would suffer dearly and likely fail in both countries. The hubris of your military might is astonishing and will bring long term war and hostility to your country.

Not for a long time ago, Syria had peace talks with Israil with the mediation of Turkey and result was so close. What happened later? Israel made a military operation in Gaza called `Cast Lead` for so called security and everything collapsed. And look at the result of that operation today. Syria provides missiles to Hezbollah and Israel threatens Syria. Ask to yourself if Israel is a safer country after ur security operation...

While I have no love for Assad better the devil you know than the one you don't. What if the regime that replace him is more radical then Assads's what a mess that would be.

and what happened? assad senior made sure that idea was crushed with brut force. remember, better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

If Israel invades Syria, Iran can be relied upon to supply arms to Syria and the US will not be able to help a great deal. Israel will have to occupy Syria and fight a war of occupation or fight an aerial war causing thousands of deaths and achieving nothing but another defeat like Lebanon.

Let Asad explain the further loss to Israel of Syrian territory to his own people and the Arab world. He will then have his hands full trying to save his own neck. And if he wants Kuneitra back, he will have to pay a price. A big one.

You seem to think things will be perfectly peachy. But who and how will the country be run? Had the US just abandoned Afghanistan, the Taliban and al Qaida would be back in charge. Or the Pakistani military would have taken over, maybe. And Afghanistan would then be part of larger nuclear Pakistan. What a great idea!

Does anyone remember when Israel assassinated Sheikh Musawwi in Lebanon? Just as then nobody gave consideration for the consequences, which brought us Siyyid Nasrallah in his place and the full vengeance and wrath of Iran and its proxies on our head, so too now, people like Tira never learn from past mistakes, never plan ahead for more than a few seconds in time. Typical Israeli Military thinking.

It's good to know there is still a brave guy like you, not afraid of saying what must be said.

There is right now peace with Syria. Israel has the Golan and there is peace with Syria. Israel has achieved peace with Hezbollah as well. Since there is at present no conflict. Israel has no peace with Hamas because of Gilad Shalit who is still kidnapped.

Toppling Assad's regime (which will eventually crumble when Syrian become more savy about better leadership) is not the immediate solution to the growing threat coming from Lebanon. The "big Satan" is in Iran. What would replace the Assad's clan would not be any better while the long arm of Iran is still able to meddle in Syria & in Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah. It would require the occupation of Syria by an international force & as we know (with UNIFIL) even that can be quite ineffective. Priority is rendering Iran unable economically or otherwise to support the extremists & to make its propaganda unable to keep high hopes among Israel's enemies that they will wipe the country off the map.

Zvi Barel and several other Israeli strategists mispredicted that Assad-junior's power would last only 2-3 years. They were wrong...Israel now is planning to bring Syria into the large-scale equation in which its plans to deal with Iran are laid out. Israel is capable of attacking and even invading Syria but it is not capable of toppling Addad without a full-scale military venture. If Israel attacks Syria, it still cannot eliminate SCUD missile problem from Hezbollah.

Can a Syrian dictatorship survive in the 21st century? Doubtful. Can Assad keep his people suppressed? Can the Syrians stifle the internet, keep thousands of political prisoners in jail, and keep their failing economy going while trying to arm Hezbollah to the teeth? Come on, folks. Syria is a backwater. Israel should simply broadcast live webcams from the mainstreets of Israeli Arab towns and let the Syrians see for themselves what suckers they are for being led like sheep.

Except Hubris will be the end of Israel

WHY TO WASTE TIME WITH DETAILS OF WHAT WE SEE. ALL WELL PLANNED. these are just probaganda news sites. shame on me that it took my 3-4 years to understand this.

Israel serious about peace...yeah right! Scarcely a week goes by without them threatening some neighbour or another. No wonder they are so despised in the region. And sure most of the civilised world would like to see a government change in Israel, but hey, you can't have everything can you. I know Israel is a relatively young country, but it needs to start growing up and learning some diplomacy.

Really? after the big land invasion defeat with a militia in southern Lebanon with way less weapons and technology than syria. No air defense no s300 that may knock and jet fighter israel has, no MIG31/29 that can fire on israel while flying in middle of syria no hundereds of thousands of scuds that can be fired from Syria. Some israelis still talk tough. it is good though... they are so scared and don't what to do. Israel cant even attack lebanon to want to engage with an army like Syria. Good Luck. Syria going no where...

Oh yes, it played in Iraq. Consider for a moment the value of having a strict secular regime next door. You don't really want to topple Assad and let the crazies take over. They'll be segregating the buses in downtown Damascus next!

..Sryia is key to long term peace in the region.. wake up to this fact...

"The deeper the connection among Hezbollah, Syria, Iran and Hamas, the more we need to worry," - IDF One would think such an observation, and others over the years, would lead to one simple conclusion: Get Syria out of Iran`s orbit and make peace with it. This will bring an end to military Hizballah and also bring peace with Lebanon. Problem: There is a price to be paid. Syria`s close alliance with Iran is not natural. Syria is secular, Iran fundamentalist. Syria is an Arab state, Iran Persian (long time no friends). Syria is mostly Sunni, Iran Shiite. Syria used to be friendly to the US, since they joined the coalition against Saddam in the 1991 war. Jim Baker visited Syria 15 times. After the 9-11 attacks Syria helped the US in hunting al-Qaida, even to the extent of torturing some on behalf of the CIA. But Syria continued to support Hizballah as pressure against Israel. However, Bush had larger (and confused) ambitions, so he made Hizballah one of his targets. Syria, as their supporter, became "evil", and Israel can now use this excuse to refrain from dealing with Syria and maintain its hold over the Golan. There is a price to the Israeli reluctance to talk peace with Syria. Since 1973, when Egypt got out of the Israeli-Arab conflict, Syria tried to cause trouble only indirectly, so as not to be attacked itself. Israel, though had to go to war twice already, in Lebanon, in 1982 and 2006. Another one is expected. All these were indirect Syrian wars. But now, Syria is willing to repeat the Hizballah strategy and engage Israel in its own war, perhaps as part of a larger war led by Iran.

1. The Golan belongs to Syria by international law, so as long as Israel occupies it there is motivation for the Syrians to go to war. They will not succeed, as Sadat failed militarily, but won his Sinai back anyway. Why go through a war to do the obvious? 2. Peace with Syria means also peace with Lebanon, as Asad has achnowledged. 3. Hizballah will be cut off from its arms supplier Iran. Israel controls the sea approaches, has good intelligence, and can stop such arms shipments. 4. Iran will be weakened by losing its northern arm. Hizballah now deploys missiles as an implied threat to Israel if it attacks Iran. 5. Hamas will be weakened. Mashal will be kicked out of Syria, and also no arms to reach Hamas from Lebanon. 6. The Palestinian position in general will be weakened, being last in the peace line with no real state support. They will be easier to deal with. 7. Netanyahu can deliver this peace. He can`t make peace with the Palestinians: Likud is too ideological.

Had Georges Clemenceau were alive today, he would have been delighted to read this stupid article. 'What cannot be achieved by force can be achieved by more force' is the way a typical general thinks, and he will come up with a plan. The political and strategic consequences, both known and unknown, are beyond his horizons. Who will replace Asad, and would the regime be better or worse for Israel, is only a question for idiots , because the general knows that such a problem can also be solved by force. The real question concerning Asad is:Why not make peace with Syria? They want it (since the later years of Papa Asad), and they want to be friends with the US. But as long as Israel hangs on to the Golan, this can't happen.

proposition is that finally Israel's Northern border will be officially recognised after Israel gives Syria back the Golan in return for a ceasefire.

Behind Nasralla's skirt. Funny part is that most Muslim lebanese follow like puppies Hassan the hizb. But let me asure you,Israel is very aware,and are readying in case of another ambush. Unlike the2nd Lebanon war with Olmert at the helm that while our reservists were at long last doig so well,the war was ended abruptly. Firstly because Hassan asked for a ceasefire(remember)? It will not happen again.This time Israel is well prepared.

A: "This sounds a really stupid idea!!!" Agreed. It was a stupid idea when Sharon used it to justify lunging into Lebanon in 1982, and it's a stupid idea now. A: "Who will replace him?" That rather pre-supposes that the IDF can topple him, which I seriously doubt. A superpower can indulge in regime-change, but even there (think USSR in Afghanistan) it can all go pear-shaped. But Israel isn't a superpower. Regime-change requires the occupation of an entire country, and the IDF simply isn't up to that task. It can do a swift snatch'n'grab of territory, and it can then hunker down and refuse to return it. Sure. But that's a loooooooooong way short of occupying an entire country.

the muslim brotherhood can't be possibily more dangerous then the asad regime ,because as strict as they are , they will never be as religious as the saudi's ,yet saudi arabia never attacked israel ,forget about being best friends . but live and let live will suffice for now .think of headache this will be for iran and it's proxies .

".....assad concluded that he can do whatever he wants". Isn't that what Israel does all the time?

m: "A massive missile launch against Israel should provoke an Israeli response that eliminates Assad and the Syrian leadership that he represents." And just suppose that the IDF launches a massive invasion to overrun Syria and depose Assad, only to wake up one morning with the news that this expeditionary force is surrounded and starring defeat in the face? Why is such an outcome so outlandish, moshe? After all, it would be a two-horse race, and much, much bigger upsets than that have happened in the history of warfare. Don't be so quick to go to war, and don't be so cocky when you do. After all, it takes only one battle to change ANY army from cock-of-the-walk to a worn-out feather duster....

This sounds a really stupid idea!!! Who will replace him? Most probably the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Above all, Israel must make it clear right now that, in the event of a missile attack from the north, it will act on the goal of immediately deposing the Alawite regime in Syria even before turning its attention to the missile threat." And how does Israel intend to do that? Deposing the regime requires "occupation", and Israel ain't up to that task. Heck, you're saying that the IDF will drive up to Damascas and IGNORE ALL THE MISSILES SITES while it does that. Err, dude, what happens when the IDF reaches Damascas only to find out that Assad ain't there? You know, if they find out that Assad is actually over there with his army, defending his missile batteries...... What do you do then? Declare victory and run home? Your IDF isn't the US Army, dude, and it's nothing like as powerful as you pretend it to be. It certainly isn't capable of occupying a country as big and as populous as Syria, and it will be ground into the dirt if it tried.

From this: "Syria, according to recent reports, is supplying Hezbollah with Scuds"... to this: "The fact that Syria is arming Hezbollah with Scuds".... How did it go from being a "report" to being a "fact"? Is it because Israel spinkled some magic fairey-dust on it? Or did Israel wave its magic wand over it? Heck, Tira, even your own Minister of Defence has accepted that the "reports" are unconfirmed. So how did it become "fact"?

a sunni regime in syria will be hostile to iran and hizbollah , and certainly be aligned with the saudi's and jordan .plus you will have the added benefit of years for the regime consoladation phase .

An Israeli attack with cluster bombs is an attack from America. If Israels victims want to hols Israel responsible for their actions, they need to start by holding America responsible for their actions.

Plenty of wars are ended without instituting the American model of occupying the country and forcing MacDonalds and democracy upon the locals. I've even heard American generals say they should have declared victory in Afghanistan then promptly left. There is more than one way to skin the cat.

Correct and precise.

assad did not threaten war against israel until obama came to power and started his engagement policy. that is just a fact. assad is a very dangerous man. he is immature and a big shot. he called other arab sunni leaders "half men." his relations with iran threaten the entire region's stability. the stupid europeans, including france and the uk, gave him an opportunity to join the west. he chose to stay with iran. he is nothing but an iranian proxy.

If Israel let's itself get shot at by Syrian arms transferred to Hezbollah and doesn't attack Syria itself in response, then Israeli policy is a joke

if propaganda is your game. Oded Tira are talking of hundreds of Scuds in (future?) Lebanon and asking for a strong army to take on Lebanon and Syria. Don't you get that only a just peace will stop this nonsense.

Cipora #16 : 1. the report on Scud missiles being transferred to Hizbullah via Syria is NOT confirmed; Defense Minister Barak said it's not confirmed as did the US. Defense analysts such as the U.S. global security consultancy Stratfor say that acquiring Scuds, which are huge and can't be transported w/out being seen by satellite, "runs counter to everything Hezbollah has learned from fighting the Israelis -- guerrilla resistance, hidden weapons caches and the lighter more mobile and more concealable artillery rockets". 2. Hizbullah is NOT part of the Lebanese army (that's actually the problem), they r accountable to the Iranian regime & not the Leb govt. 3. Assad was NOT quiet during the halcyon Bush years u yearn for, he was actually really busy, building up his relationship with Iran, providing a conduit for weapons from Iran to Hizbullah, and according to many reports, his regime was involved in a string of assassinations such as Leb PM Rafic Hariri & other Leb politians

there are enough reasons to do it long, long time ago !

Was it not the aim to 'take down Hamas' as Livni indicated in an interview (TV) at the beginning of Operation Cast Lead? That sure worked, or?! And all that bravery inside an enclosed prison. Good luck with Syria and the hornets such a war will set a-buzz... whether or not you crazy people 'topple' Assad or not. And then already the Goldstone hint that you will claim it 'internationally inacceptable' if your own cities are set ablaze by other powers. At least Goldstone has a brain.

Threats and warnings are exploited by Goldstone cult followers to portray them as 'intent to commit war crimes' . Rather than to bend to the constraints , restrictions and/or limitations of freedom of expression imposed by dhimmis promoters of dhimmitude , there are ways to convey messages that increase deterrence .

After '67, coup in Syria, none in Egypt and Jordan. Do you want a coup? How about peace? IF, IF Syria attacks. Do not destroy weapons. No destroy weapon operators. Males between 18-45. Perhaps in Syria women are soldiers? I do not think so. Leave Bashar Assad for last. So that he can be killed by his own people for a humiliating military defeat. Or capture him and compell him to make peace like America did to the Japanese Emperor and generals. Use airforce. Why ground force? Unnecessary causulties.After surrender of Syria send in ground forces like America in Japan. Weapon operators hide amoung their women human shield body guards sometimes. This should be taken into account.

obama has tied israel into knots with various threats. unfortunately, israel has allowed herself to be too dependent on the united states. no one bothered to imagine the possibility of an obama. assad was quiet and behaved relatively under bush. under obama's pro-muslim policies assad concluded that he can do whatever he wants.

I am sure that a US backed Saudi Arabia would have no objection to supporting the development of a long term insurrection in Syria. A Syrian masacre of their own Sunni majority such as occured in Hama won't happen again. The Alawite hold on Syria is fragile at best. Using Hezbollah as a proxy army is as much a problem for Lebanon as it is for Syria. Lebanon has been the proxy battle ground long enough. Let Syria have it's proxy war in Syria. Sunnis make up 74% of the population in Syria while the Alawite make up less than 10%. If Assad wants to play with matches his house will get burnt down

of the Golan heights sounds a toughtless adventure unless Assad and the Alawites are replaced by an other regime that could keep the same strict cease fire from the syrian side of the golan heights . Saddam and his ba'ath regime were 'toppled' but terror bombing reigns now in daily Iraq , it doesn't make the headlines if there are less than 100 deads . You could argue it is within Iraq borders , but you'd be naive to not get the picture were Israel is concerned of 'a regime change' in a neighboring state with a mutual border . If you still don't get the picture of the OIC-Arab League states members interests against Israel , then consider Israel-Egypt 'peace' treaty and look at Mubarak who is portrayed as Egypt strongman : from Gaza we are daily hit by rockets plus the hostile infiltration attempts and mounted terror attacks to divert attention from other spots near the fence where terrorists try to plant IEDs, and now due to recents concrete terror warnings and rockets hiting the Gulf of Eilat, you can add from Sinaii also

Brigadier, take some advice from Colin Powell: "You break it, you own it." After you take out the leadership, you have to govern unless you want al Qaida or somebody equally distasteful running Syria. So how does a country with the population of Israel govern Syria? Do you think Turkey or Iraq or Lebanon will help? Will France or the UK step in and do it for you? Sykes and Picot are dead and buried. And good riddance! Nobody will govern Syria to your specs.

As a self-confessed DOVE, I cannot even begin to understand why Israel allows Syria to arm Hizbollah with any kind of weapons?? We have behind us a UN Resolution which prohibits any re-arming of Hizbollah - so with our reputedly great Intelligence systems, why does our air-force not knock out any form of transports crossing from Syria into Lebanon carrying any kind of arms for the Hizbollah. Why have we allowed Hizbollah (and Hamas in the south) to re-arm with offensive rockets that pose a strategic threat to our entire country - our towns, our power stations, air-port?? That is the closest thing to national quasi-suicide that I can think of.

israel trying to flex it's muscle, now watch as hezbollah with syria in tow go into israel, watch and learn, it's going to happen and america is going to cry fowl.

Israel should hold Syria acountable for ANY missile launch from Lebabnon into Israel. A single launch that does not create damge MAY be tolerated as there are others with irons in the fire. Proof that Syria is associated with ANY missile landing in Israel should provoke an devastating military response against Syria. A massive missile launch against Israel should provoke an Israeli response that eliminates Assad and the Syrian leadership that he represents. This is the Middle East... moshe

nothing is going to change in syria, assad or not...get over it

"Syria, according to recent reports, is supplying Hezbollah with" No one has proven this yet... So why the media hype for war?

assad and his alawite regime must be toppled in case of war. the assad regime poses a direct, imminent threat to the people of israel. unfortunately, assad has been encouraged in his madness by the obama administration's "engagement" policy. lebanon, too, must understand that any firing of scud missiles from its territory, will have very serious consequences. hezbollah is an integral part of the lebanese government and a such its arms are part of the lebanese armed forces.

Your neighbors do not want you there. Rather than try to change the Middle East to suit you, you should change to suit the Middle East. With threats like these regarding "Next conflicts" it doesnt sound like you are much of a man with any peaceful intentions. You are no better than Amanijad saying that the Israeli government should be toppled. Nice Job Generalismimo!

LETTER TO SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD: It will be the goal of the state of Israel, in the event of an attack bye the state of Lebanon or from any group from Lebanon, will constitute an all out self defence response upon the state of Syria from, the state of Israel. After our responce, the state of Israel will respond to the new government of Syria, with aid and help the people of the new government in any way, to help the two states live together in a lasting peace.....State of Israel

...at this point. It is self-evident. "Israel must topple Assad in next conflict with Syria proxies" is starting a regional war. Is making peace instead that big a frakking deal? THIS IS NOT 1950!

can Israel afford to have an unstable Syria? Imagine a situation where an Iraq like scenario develops in Syria!

The author's wish to topple Syria's regime during the next hypothetical war is completely unreasonnable and unconsiderate. Does Mister Tira know who will replace Assad if he had to fall? Does mister Tira know the Sunni Extresmism that is currently boiling within Syria and that is helo quiet by the Assad regime? Toppling Assad right now is putting the Islamic Britherhood in power, and then Israel will find itself confronted to a worse enemy. Israel needs to stop interfering in its neighbours internal affairs. They have been there way longer than she was, and they want the land they always owned, back. How complicated can that be to understand?

...It's as if the General is unaware that Israel already has had experience in trying to topple one government and install another. Lebanon 1982? Have you forgotten already? Or how about Iraq in 2003? While we all know Israel has a much more advanced military than the 1980's Soviet hardware Syria must rely upon, we also know that Israel seemed disinterested in engaging the much more lightly armed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and didn't even want to fight Hamas in Gaza City. But you will fight the Syrians in Damascus? You will have to since you will not topple the government from the air. Openly making the Syrian government's removal from power the war's objective, and then failing to actually do it, will look like a defeat, even if you blow up lots of things in Syria. And especially if Syria's scuds manage to blow stuff up in Israel too.

The writer is a soldier, not a politician, and it's pretty obvious from his article. Who are we to topple other countries heads of State. All this talk of war. When making peace with the Palestinians could stop any war dead in its tracks. But no, we would rather build more in Jerusalem than make peace, no matter how many Jewish lives it may cost. This is the mentality of the colonialist. Colonialism is dead, and the sooner Israel realizes it the better. Before Israel dies with it.

You can't topple Assad because there are no suitable replacements. The only way to maybe make Assad give up would be to replace Iran with Hooters. I'd give up for Hooters! LOL!

Poor Oded! This guy is a little behind the news curve. US, Lebanon, and Egypt have all discreted this planted disinformation. A scud is a pretty big missle, and more importantly, the support crews needed to service it and fuel it prior to launch make it absolutely impossible to transport to Lebanon. Between US sattelites, of which even antiquated keyhole sattelites could find a scud and the trucks hauling nitric acid oxidzer through the volcano cloud and fog, the illegal Israeli overflights, and the Egyptian intelligence services, not to mention the many nations who would be all to willing to supply poor defenseless Israel with photos, if there were a transfer, we would see photos instead of warmonger's hot air. Better get a better reason to start a new war! This one will not fly!!!

Surface to Air Missiles to defend its Lands from Israel. No rational Judgment will ever stop Israel from launching attacks or invasions. Syria and Lebanon Know that. Their populations will mount the fiercest defense and ensure Israel pays dearly.

As George Bush learned, if you break it, you will need to fix it. You cannot just topple a government and expect something good to miraculously replace it. And nobody will do that for you. Turkey and Iraq and Lebanon will not run Syria for you. Al Qaida may take over, if pure chaos is what you leave and you leave them the opportunity. Get serious. Nobody, not even the UK or France will start a new colonial enterprise. That period is over, ended, kaput, finis!. Sykes and Picot are dead. And good riddance!

An attack with Scuds is an attack directly by Syria (and Iran), even if the trigger is pulled by its proxy Hezbollah.

Assad had a chance to be spared from both calamities. He will choose the wrong path.

The writer says Israel can overthrow Assad and his ruling elite in Syria by a crushing, large attack. Does this also include occupation a la Bush in Iraq, for how else will Syrian regime be ousted? To assume the Syrian army or people are willing, able, or interested in ousting their regime because of war with Israel is a great leap of faith that is based perhaps upon intelligence the general public does not possess, and is a very risky calculation. Attacking Syria would invite Iranian intervention and possibly turn the whole Arab world against Israel, even after Syria retaliates with its large stock of strategic missiles armed with regular and chemical warheads. The resulting political situation would set back peace efforts by 10 years at the minimum.

Typical military hubris without sufficient consideration of diplomatic fallout. We know what a great job the military establishment did in the last Lebanon war. I hope there are responsible civilian authorities addressing the issue.