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War on Terror

IDF successes may take battle to Damascus


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
September 05, 2004

Israel’s success over the past year in eliminating the top local leaders of Hamas and other “Palestinian” terror groups may result in the IDF having to look abroad for high-level targets in response to the murder of Israeli Jews.

The wrathful eye of Israel’s defense establishment turned to Damascus last week, after Hamas terrorists massacred 16 men, women and children in a double “suicide” bus bombing in Beersheva.

Syria has long extended both financial support and guidance to the various “Palestinian” terror groups, and now publicly hosts the leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others.

On Sunday, Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz reiterated a warning heard daily since last Tuesday’s merciless slaughter:that Syria’s patronage of the perpetrators was going to land Damascus in the crosshairs of IAF bomber pilots.

Burgeoning terror hub

Mofaz told Sunday’s cabinet meeting there was intelligence indicating “increased involvement” from the Damascus-based offices of Hamas and other terror groups in planning and executing the mass murder of Israel’s Jews.

Many of the top leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the various terror groups under Yasser Arafat’s PLO umbrella have transferred their operational headquarters to Damascus, following widespread IDF success in assassinating and capturing terror chieftains over the past year.

Israeli security chiefs during the past week said the Jewish state would strike these headquarters, despite their location. They also indicated Syria itself could be a target for its open support of these groups.

Last October, Israeli warplanes bombed a terrorist training camp just outside Damascus, after a terror cell planning to bomb an Israeli school was captured and linked to a group operating out of Syria.

The regime of Bashar Assad has heaped scorn on Israel, the United States and the West for demanding it cease support for the terrorists.

Killers on the run

But Syria’s defiant stance does not mean both it and the terrorists it harbors are taking Israel’s threats lightly.

Syrian Information Minister Ahmed al-Syria said as much on Friday in an interview with a Kuwaiti newspaper.

In typical fashion, al-Syria warned of earth-shattering consequences if Israel dared to launch a raid on his nation’s territory.

The London-based “Palestinian” newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported Sunday that overall Hamas leader Khaled Mashal had fled Syria fearing an Israeli attempt on his life.

Other sources said Mashal was hiding in the Iranian Embassy in Damascus.

Leaders of other terror groups have reportedly escaped to Beirut, where they are enjoying the protection of Hizballah.

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