Israel retaliates after Iran 'fires 20 rockets' at army in occupied Golan Heights

[turbinetree]

Source: The Guardian

Arch-enemies Iran and Israel have appeared to edge closer to all-out war after Israel’s military said its positions in the Golan Heights were hit with a barrage of Iranian rockets, prompting it to respond with extensive strikes targeting Tehran’s forces across Syria.

The attack, if confirmed, would mark the first time Iran has fired rockets in a direct strike on Israeli forces, dramatically ratcheting up what has for years been a conflict fought through proxies.

Several but not all of the Iranian rockets were intercepted by Israeli defences, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Lt Col Jonathan Conricus, told reporters.

“At approximately 12.10, 10 minutes past midnight, forces belonging to the Iranian Quds Force fired approximately 20 projectiles – most of them are probably rockets but that is yet to be determined – towards the forward line of IDF positions in the Golan Heights,” he said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/09/iran-fires-20-rockets-syria-golan-heights-israel

[dhol82]

1. Damn. We might, stupidly, get WWIII whether we want it or not.

[cbreezen]

2. The timing is no coincidence... nt

[leftynyc]

11. Retaliation after Iranian sent rockets

land in the Golan is a no brainer. That it would happen almost immediately after the rockets fall also shouldn't surprise anyone. So the timing is also no surprise. The Sunni countries are becoming far to cozy to Israel for Iran's liking.

[Docreed2003]

3. Interesting timing...

[Chipper Chat]

4. Don't we have a pact with Israel that if they declare

War on Iran then we must also declare war on iran? Is this Bolton ' goal?

[blkyank1]

7. I don't think there is some

Kind of blanket,"Start a war and we will finish it for you" arrangement between the US and Israel otherwise, we probably would have
gone to war with Iran in 2005 or 2006.

the US has guaranteed the existence of the Jewish state, meaning if Iran invades them via Syria, we could come to the rescue.

[oberliner]

30. No, we don't

Why would you think this?

[BigmanPigman]

5. Gee, here we go. What took them so long?

[TeamPooka]

6. Thanks Trump.

[Utah Grizzlee]

8. Donald Trump, Strengthening Hardliners on Both Sides

Kind of like a Hate Fluffer, if you catch my drift

[MFM008]

9. Yahoo

Has been waiting for his wag the dog moment to
Divert attention away from his corruption.
And maggot would dance naked down the Avenue
To change the subject from

R U S S I A.

[pwb]

10. Were they kids playing with bottle rockets?

Hope they weren't throwing stones again...☮

[leftynyc]

12. Bottle rockets?

That's what you think came from Syria into the Golan? Is everyone here just determined to pretend that Iran doesn't routinely call for the destruction of Israel just because they don't like trump? Or that they haven't been one of the biggest sponsors and financiers of hezbollah and other terrorist groups for decades? Or that they are one of al assad's best friends. You remember al assad, don't you? The disgusting animal that conducts chemical weapons attacks on his own people. I swear, the ignoring of what is actually happening over there because people don't like trump is stunningly shortsighted and smacks of children putting their fingers in their ears.

[B2G]

19. So much this. nt

[Igel]

31. Any munitions sent against Israel

are "bottle rockets."

A 500-lb cruise missile sent against Tel Aviv would be a "bottle rocket."

[hack89]

13. Hezbollah and the IRG are not kids. They are combat hardened soldiers.

what a silly thing to say - this has nothing to do with the Palestinians.

[pwb]

14. There has been over reaction on both sides before.

That's all I'm saying.

[hack89]

17. Iran is in Syria specially to threaten Israel

their goal is to build up the military infrastructure in Syria and Lebanon to attack Israel. Israel is smart to nip it in the bud.

[leftynyc]

20. No, that's not ALL you

were saying and you know it. You were determined to make this about the Palestinians and embarrassed yourself in the process.

[pwb]

21. I'm not embarrassed at all.

My point was it doesn't take much to set Israel off. I'm sick of all the Middle East . It's old and doesn't deserve any more effort from countries trying to stop it. Leave us out of it. I fought in a war where the people didn't want us there. 58000 Americans died so don't lecture me on my feelings. I know what I said and if you can't read between the lines that's your embarrassment.

[leftynyc]

22. Not much to set them off?

Tell me, which country in the entire world would simply sit by and ignore rockets falling on their land launched from an enemy without retaliation? Not one American solider/marine/airman/sailor has ever died in a fight involving Israel. Not one.

That you expect everyone to be a mind reader is your problem.

[pwb]

23. I thought Sadam Hussein and Osama bin laden threatened Israel ?

Americans died fighting them. I'm done with you. And the Middle East.. Fight your own battles. Get your last word in. Twenty rockets? No casualties ? No mention of what Israel is doing. I guess they are just being great neighbors and don't deserve any of this. I don't buy it. Peace.

[leftynyc]

24. Israel had NOTHING to do with the Iraq war

other than bibi hating sadaam (for good reason, another clown that called for the elimination of the Jewish state). The second war against Iraq was said to be about wmds - something every country in Western Europe claimed which is why most (not France) joined the US to fight them, NOT because of any threat to Israel (what a ridiculous notion).

Are you old enough to remember that it was at the request of the US that Israel didn't retaliate against Iraq when missiles were landing in Tel Aviv during the first Iraq war? But you go blame Israel for that while you're at it. Anyone who leaves Israel alone gets peace in return - Egypt and Jordan are both excellent examples of that.

What you're seeing is the Sunni Shia divide in real time.

[pwb]

25. Who was Sadam going to use those non existent WMDs on? Was it Israel?

I am sick of the Arabs and Israelis fucking up the world economy every time they start shit. And I guess you think it's always everybody but Israel that starts it . Netanyahu is a real angel in your eyes right? I'm 68 . I was born the year Israel was created from palistine. Or am I wrong about that too. I will defend peace and understanding until I die. You seem to defend one country no matter what. Good luck with that. You have belittled me in every one of your replies.

[leftynyc]

27. He had already

used them against his own people and had just ended a 7 year war with Iran. Who knows what that lunatic would come? I be already stated, many times on this board, that I detest bibi so you're wrong about that also. Got a problem with IsrAel being created on that land? Take it up with the UN. I have zero idea how you think Israel can fuck up the WORLD'S economy. And for the record, Israel is celebrating her 70th birthday this year. It's been in the papers.

[leftynyc]

29. And I haven't belittled you

You tried to drag the I/p issue into this and got called on it. Then you got defensive about it.

[Glorfindel]

26. Not entirely accurate. There is this...

"The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats, on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War.[3] The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship.[4] At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish.[1][5]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

I was in Vietnam at the time. I remember vividly that Israel was given the benefit of the doubt by all concerned, but nevertheless 34 U.S. citizens died and 171 were wounded.

[leftynyc]

28. The implication

was we have fought wars FOR Israel. I know all about the Liberty. I've never heard one Israel speak of it with anything but sadness. I honor your service.

[pwb]

15. Combat hardened soldiers?

20 rockets fired and no casualties has to make you wonder just how professional they were. I read the link and it leaves plenty of questions in my mind at least.

[hack89]

16. Hezbollah and the IRG are the shock troops for the Syrian regime.

Hezbollah are their most effective troops while the IRG provides the generals and staff that run the Syrian army.

[pwb]

18. Russia pulls the strings of all the countries you mentioned.

They interfere and divide us all over the world. It's time we all recognize the real enemy of the world is Putins Russia . We play a part too but nothing like Putin . Good talk.

[Igel]

32. Why?

The Israelis issue a call warning civilians to know where air raid shelters were the day before this attack.

A reasonable assumption is that they had intel that said the missile batteries were being installed, prepped, and ready for action.

Israel has early warning systems. Albeit not so much "early" given the short distance. They drill with their systems. They don't do idiocies like what happened in a while back. There have been numerous times when Israeli civilians areas have been the target of rocket attacks. I'm fairly sure the military would take the same kinds of precautions since, well, the military are also people.

In the case of incoming missiles, esp. from high-risk targets, you can be sure there'd be sirens and a call for taking shelter.

It's lone, very-short-distance rockets that cause the problems.