|
Intelligence official warns: Syria gearing up for confrontation
Yossi Baidatz, head of the Research Division at the Military Intelligence Branch, told the cabinet Sunday that Syrian President Bashar Assad was working on two different fronts simultaneously the diplomatic and the military one. "On the one hand, he (Assad) doesn't rule out the possibility of a diplomatic settlement with Israel, but on the other hand he is preparing his forces for a military confrontation, by enhancing the production of long-range missiles and moving antitank missiles close to the Golan Heights border. From his point of view, the two do not contradict each other," Baidatz explained. During his briefing, Baidatz said that Damascus was still involved in developments in Lebanon , and that the country was concerned regarding the international tribunal on former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's murder. Baidatz stated that the Syrian President has been conducting intensive diplomatic negotiations in the last two weeks, in hope of capitalizing on what he believes is an international opening for talks. The senior official has also referred to the Palestinian and the Lebanese arena and the Iranian issue. Speaking of Iran, Baidatz said that Tehran was preparing for December 25, at which time the UN Security Council is set to decide whether to impose sanctions on Iran . Posted by: Fred 2006-12-11 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=174620 |