Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). 18-Nov-13
Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon yesterday estimated Syria’s President Assad used roughly half of his missile stockpile during the country’s civil war.
Speaking at Tel Aviv University, Ya’alon said Assad’s strength had been significantly diminished, as shown by his acquiescence to disarm his chemical stockpile “against his will.” Ya’alon also said “He [Assad] has been weakened, he fires missiles at his own citizens, and the number of missiles, including Scuds, has dropped to half.” Ya’alon also predicted that the country’s bloody civil war means that “Syria is certainly going to suffer chronic instability.”
Given the assessment, Ya’alon stressed that the IDF is keeping a close eye on its border with Syria and although “Sometimes a shell falls in our territory from Syria, then the launching site destroyed,” he added, “there is no escalation.” Ya’alon did not directly address suggestions Israel had carried out air strikes in Syria to prevent advanced weapons, such as missiles and anti-aircraft equipment being transferred to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon. However, Ya’alon coyly commented, “We said we wouldn’t let advanced [Syrian] arms reach hostile forces and, ‘according to foreign sources,’ we kept our word.”
Hezbollah fought side by side with troops loyal to President Assad, most notably recapturing the town of Qusair earlier this year, viewed by many as a serious blow to opposition groups. As recently as last week, Hezbollah fighters helped Assad’s forces recapture a southern Damascus suburb.
Meanwhile, in Syria itself, the Telegraph reports that 31 Syrian government soldiers were killed yesterday following a huge bomb blast at an army base near Damascus. Assad’s forces have made significant gains in recent weeks against opposition forces near both Damascus and Aleppo.
Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon yesterday estimated Syria’s President Assad used roughly half of his missile stockpile during the country’s civil war.
Speaking at Tel Aviv University, Ya’alon said Assad’s strength had been significantly diminished, as shown by his acquiescence to disarm his chemical stockpile “against his will.” Ya’alon also said “He [Assad] has been weakened, he fires missiles at his own citizens, and the number of missiles, including Scuds, has dropped to half.” Ya’alon also predicted that the country’s bloody civil war means that “Syria is certainly going to suffer chronic instability.”
Given the assessment, Ya’alon stressed that the IDF is keeping a close eye on its border with Syria and although “Sometimes a shell falls in our territory from Syria, then the launching site destroyed,” he added, “there is no escalation.” Ya’alon did not directly address suggestions Israel had carried out air strikes in Syria to prevent advanced weapons, such as missiles and anti-aircraft equipment being transferred to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon. However, Ya’alon coyly commented, “We said we wouldn’t let advanced [Syrian] arms reach hostile forces and, ‘according to foreign sources,’ we kept our word.”
Hezbollah fought side by side with troops loyal to President Assad, most notably recapturing the town of Qusair earlier this year, viewed by many as a serious blow to opposition groups. As recently as last week, Hezbollah fighters helped Assad’s forces recapture a southern Damascus suburb.
Meanwhile, in Syria itself, the Telegraph reports that 31 Syrian government soldiers were killed yesterday following a huge bomb blast at an army base near Damascus. Assad’s forces have made significant gains in recent weeks against opposition forces near both Damascus and Aleppo.
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