Can someone enlighten me - why are the Israelis bombing Syrian cities?

[onetexan]

I keep reading Bibi has been bombing Syria's cities, and while i understand they are trying a land grab of the Syrian golan heights, the bombings are mindboggling.

[TheProle]

1. Bases and caches of weapons

And chemical weapons facilities.

[applegrove]

2. They are bombing arms depots to destroy arms or

poison gasses that could be used to attack Israel if some nasty group got control of Syria and its weapons. I think everyone is crossing their fingers it is a democracy full of moderates that run Syria from here on in but there is no guarantee.

[onetexan]

3. Thanks, the articles i read mentioned such, but is it legal

For Israel to bomb another country's stash of weapons like that without both countries engaged in a conflict against each other?

[applegrove]

6. Since they are bombing chemical weapons depots,

and chemical weapons are very illegal, I don't think the world is going to complain much. The new Syrian authority may not be so happy whomever they are.

[maxsolomon]

20. Legal? What is legal?

Israel and the Al Assad regime have been enemies for decades. Israel's been bombing Syria for this or that reason for decades. They took the Golan Heights from Syria because it was being used to rain artillery down on Israel.

Taking the opportunity to destroy weapons, including, presumably, chemical weapons (that Al Assad used) is a smart move.

The US is bombing in Syria, too. Attacking ISIL.

[onetexan]

21. While i agree the Israelis can bomb the weapons, they are also bombing Syria's naval ships, further destabilizing the

country. Israel is not doing a good thing here.

[Ontheboundry]

4. Not a single chance

That happens

[applegrove]

5. That Syria becomes a Democracy led by moderates?

I was stretching there. I meant moderate for the Middle East. Like Jordan.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. I think Jordan has a king. ...

Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein[a] (born 30 January 1962) is King of Jordan, having ascended the throne on 7 February 1999. He is a member of the Hashemite, who have been the reigning royal family of Jordan since 1921, and is considered a 41st-generation direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[1]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_II_of_Jordan

[applegrove]

13. Yes but they are a moderate country for the Middle East

even though the King can replace the Prime Minister in a crisis. They allow political parties and a Parliament. Their foreign policy is moderate for the Middle East.

Lots of places have royalty and Parliaments. Canada, which is a full democracy, does. Great Britain too. Jordan is a limited democracy as the king uses his powers still.

[littlemissmartypants]

16. Politics of Jordan...

The politics of Jordan takes place in a framework of a parliamentary monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Jordan is head of government, and of a multi-party system. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. The king exercises his power through the government he appoints which is responsible before the Parliament. In contrast to most parliamentary monarchies, the monarchy of Jordan is not ceremonial, with the King having significant influence over the affairs of the country.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Jordan

[nmmi]

7. Even more mystifying is this Times of Israel article which makes it sound they are getting along great

Credit: Richard D   https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143352969

[JI7]

8. It's a Sunni Shia thing. Same reason Saudi Arabia helps Israel

This doesn't mean they love each other. But it's about going after a common enemy.

[nmmi]

11. There's that. But I don't expect the era of good feelings to last long. Hamas is Sunni, as are most Palestinian

Muslims, and they don't like Israel.

[claudette]

10. Because

they can?

[OldBaldy1701E]

22. BINGO! (n/t)

[Voltaire2]

12. The imperial core nations will continue to intervene

Last edited Tue Dec 10, 2024, 06:38 AM - Edit history (1)

in Syria, destroying and killing as they deem necessary.

[malaise]

14. Gaza, Lebanon and Syria

with Western complicity.
What a planet

[C0RI0LANUS]

15. The Shiite Crescent

For Sunni Salafists like the ones who ousted Bashar al-Assad, the Palestinian cause does not take precedent over purifying Mecca and Medina of so-called "impurities" or "corruption."

More important for these combat jihadists is defeating heretical regimes (meaning Shia Islam-led countries: the Shiite Crescent.)



The loss of Syria reduces the Shiite Crescent by one, leaving Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and the Yemeni Houthis. Shia minorities in Central Asia and Pakistan are geo-politically ineffective but subject to Sunni persecution (like the Hazaras in Afghanistan).

The unresolved Yemeni Civil War is between Muhammad Bin Salman-backed Sunnis versus the Shiites. In 2015 when the Yemeni Shiites (AKA the Houthis) defeated and humiliated the Saudis and Sunni Yemeni army, MBS ordered an air and naval blockade of Yemen.



This inhuman blockade lead to a famine which the UN estimates killed 130,000 Shiites.


Hashem Mahmoud Atin, a 10-month-old displaced child suffering from acute malnutrition and who is unable to reach a hospital for treatment, is held by his mother at a refugee camp in Yemen.

When few countries helped the Houthis, Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah (their fellow Shiites) stepped in with massive food aid and arms. Out of gratitude and loyalty, the Houthis became proxies for Tehran and Lebanese Hezbollah. This is why we see the Houthis counterattacking Western maritime targets in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden whenever Israel attacks Iran, LH, or Syria. USCENTCOM then retaliates or conducts pre-emptive strikes against the Houthis. See CENTCOM press release below on one of their latest strikes.

Note: Shiite Hazaras bravely fought alongside US forces in Afghanistan.

Undated photo of elite Hazara soldiers courtesy of the Washington Post.


Sources:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-state-explains-why-it-doesnt-attack-israel-yet/

https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3963942/us-central-command-strikes-houthi-facilities-and-weapons-systems/

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113852

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

[Bettie]

17. Because Netanyahu wants to

and it draws attention away from his testimony today?

[Blue_Tires]

18. Why does anybody do anything?

Because they can...

[ForgedCrank]

19. Story is

the same, they are trying to destroy weapon depots and other war equipment. We are also doing the same thing right now. It is an effort to keep as many weapons as possible out of the hands of terrorists and hostiles.