Russia on Monday, 16 Kislev, announced it demands an explanation regarding aerial strikes in Syria on Sunday, strikes being attributed to Israel. Interestingly, after seven previous aerial strikes in Syria have been attributed to Israel to date, Russia has remained silent, genuinely uninterested in becoming event in this aspect of regional events.

One might believe that what makes the strikes against munition storage facilities on Sunday different is the fact Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is currently visiting with Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. It is possible that Russia wants to send a positive message to Nasrallah at a time when many Israeli experts fear the eight years of quiet on the border with Lebanon that followed the Second Lebanon War may be rapidly approaching an end and Hizbullah may be preparing to engage Israel militarily. Channel 10 News reports that Israel believes there will be a Hizbullah response, possibly not immediate and possibly not along the S. Lebanese or Syrian borders, but there will be a response from Nasrallah.

Regarding the latest attack, which foreign media agencies report targeted advanced anti-aircraft missiles and a weapons convoy, Israel remains silent as in the other cases. However, senior government officials including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has stated publically that Israel will not permit the arming of Hizbullah and it will take whatever steps that are necessary to prevent such a reality.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)