Israel Matzav

Turkish newspaper accuses Israel of providing intelligence to Assad

A Turkish newspaper is accusing Israel of using its Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to gather intelligence information on Syrian insurgents and provide it to the forces of Syria's embattled President, Bashar al-Assad (link in Turkish, Google translation here) (Hat Tip: Donna D).

Israel, using an unmanned aerial vehicle Heronları opponents claim that information was transferred to Damascus. Intense internal conflicts Heronların Hama, Homs, Aleppo and Damascus, said information is being collected. All camps are also closely followed by their positions in the Israeli government said. Visits to the camps in the region of the Syrians that there were in Israel in the images. Some time ago, a fisherman off the town of Adana's Karatas network components were implanted in Heron. Heron in Turkey, as well as the possibility of making intelligence activities may be carried out in flight for Syrian dissidents said.

It is possible that Israel is observing the Syrian battles using its Heron UAV's. One reason for that might be this story that appeared on YNet a short time ago: Israel fears thousands of Syrian 'refugees' attempting to flee across the Syrian border into Israel, with or without Assad's orchestration.

In light of the upheavals in the region, and on the backdrop of the provocative protests held on the fence about half a year ago – in which Syrian and Lebanese nationals were killed by IDF fire – the defense establishment is not ruling out radical scenarios of internal-Syrian escalation in the towns and villages along the border.

Assad enjoys a state of calm in the border area, mainly because the Syrian army has permanent posts and massive presence in the area since the 1974 ceasefire agreements. The calm on the streets of Quneitra, and other villages in the area, is carefully maintained.

But the IDF is not ruling out the radical possibility, which is currently defined as slim, that the bloody riots will spread to village near the border.

One of the possible ways of action considered is dealing with Syrian refugees who will storm the border seeking political asylum, as they have been doing on Syria's borders with Turkey and Jordan.

Despite the low probability, in such a situation the refugees are expected to receive temporary shelter in Israel.

In light of these considerations, the IDF is close to completing a lineup of barriers along the border with Syria. Minefields have been renewed, deep tunnels have been dug, and a new barbed-wire fence has been deployed in sensitive areas.

The construction of the new crossing in Quneitra, which now includes the only concrete guard post along the border – has also been completed, and is expected to provide a better response in case the protests resume.

Read the whole thing.

But while Israel may fear a rush for the border if things get more out of hand in Syria, the government has gone out of its way to remain neutral in the current conflict and it is inconceivable to me that we are now going to support Bashar al-Assad of all people, even if he is the devil we know. It appears far more likely that the opposition is starting these rumors in a bid to rally anti-Israel sentiment against Assad.

Bottom line: While it's plausible that Israel is observing the goings-on in Syria via the Herons, it is highly unlikely that information is being passed on to Assad.

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Heron TP unmanned aerial system, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:47 PM