laura rozen with lots of extra leads

Israeli jets said to have struck target near Syria border
Laura Rozen, Al-Monitor, Jan 30 2013

The Lebanese Army reported the heavy presence of Israeli jets over its airspace on Wednesday, as sources in the region said IF jets had struck a target, possibly anti-aircraft systems, near Syria’s border with Lebanon overnight. An unnamed regional security source told Reuters: “There was definitely a hit in the border area.” An unnamed security source told AFP: “The IAF blew up a convoy which had just crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon.” A source in the region told Al-Monitor the alleged target was anti-aircraft systems, or a convoy of components for such systems, but that could not be confirmed. AP reported that the target was SA-17 anti-aircraft missile defenses. Syria possesses advanced anti-aircraft defense systems, including the Russian-made SA-17 and, Israel believes, Russian made S-300 long-range anti-aircraft missiles. Israel would consider it a“game changer if Hezbollah acquired such advanced systems that would change the balance of power between Israel and Hezbollah and interfere with Israel’s ability to overfly Lebanon and deter Hezbollah, an Israeli security expert told Al-Monitor Wednesday. Israeli sources told McClatchy that what was targeted was electronic radar equipment that targets the GPS system of drones, such as the US unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle that went down over Iran in 2011. A Hezbollah spokesperson told Lebanon’s Daily Star he had no knowledge of the alleged Israeli strike. Regional sources suggested it might be in the interests of the parties involved, including Syria, Hezbollah and Israel, not to acknowledge a strike if one occurred. Earlier Wednesday, a Lebanese army statement said a total of 12 Israeli planes had entered Lebanese air space in 3 waves overnight, beginning at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, and leaving on Wednesday at 7:55 am, Reuters reported. Israeli media, circumscribed by military censorship, cited Lebanese and other foreign media reports on the developments, which came after days of intense and secretive security consultations in Israel and with foreign capitals. IDF intelligence chief Maj-Gen Aviv Kochavi traveled to Washington for closed-door consultations with US officials Tuesday, Al-Monitor exclusively reportedTuesday. Israeli officials would not comment on the focus of his consultations. Among those Kochavi met at the Pentagon Tuesday was Joint Chiefs chair Gen Dempsey, defense sources told Al-Monitor. Netanyahu spoke by phone with Obama on Monday, following a meeting Sunday with US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. Netanyahu also dispatched his National Security Advisor Ya’akov Amidror to Moscow. On Sunday, Israel deployed two Iron Dome batteries in northern Israel, including Haifa. Israel does not comment on the working visits of IDF officers, an IDF spokeswoman told Al-Monitor Tuesday. An Israeli official told Al-Monitor earlier Wednesday, in response to queries about still uncertain rumors of possible IDF action:

Some people say IDF wouldn’t object to opportunity to set record straight vis-a-vis Hezballah. Also, idea of putting them out of play, as done with Hamas recently.