Report: Israel plans to attack Hizbullah sites in Syria

Israeli plane

Western military reports cited by a Kuwaiti newspaper on Saturday indicated that Israel has recently mobilized a new division in support of the division already deployed in the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms. Military experts believe that the presence of two divisions of this magnitude is sufficient to go to war on the Syrian and Lebanese fronts if Israel wanted to undertake such an adventure.

The European sources who monitor the situation closely told the newspaper the Israeli overflights of unmanned aerial vehicles in recent days indicates a "strong probability" that the Israeli military is ready for action. These sources revealed that Israel has long been planning to hit strategic facilities in Syria which are used by Lebanon' Hizbullah to store a large number of long-range missiles. These sites are located in remote areas in Syria.

The same sources indicated that the Israeli strike would likely be limited to targeting Hizbullah's facilities, including factories to produce modern weapons in Syria, and which are being transferred directly to Lebanon on a regular basis. The sources added that Israel wants to show by this operation that Syria is a partner in the ongoing supply of arms to Hizbullah and consequently violates UN resolution 1701, and deserves punishment from the international community.

The sources pointed out that the situation is alarming as there is uncertainty regarding the Syrian response. It can be silent, similar to the reaction after the bombing of the Deir ez-Zor site in the 2007 or can include a "surprise."

These sources believe that the Israeli army is taking into account the Syrian reaction, especially that of the Syrian army.