Israel Readies Defenses as Possible Syria Strike Looms

In Dome We Trust: An Israeli watches the anti-missile defense system in action. Image by getty images

By Reuters August 28, 2013

Israel is deploying all of its missile defences as a precaution against possible Syrian retaliatory attacks should Western powers carry out threatened strikes on Syria, Israeli Army Radio said on Wednesday.

Citing secrecy requirements, it did not give details on the number or locations of the interceptor batteries. Systems employed by Israel’s air defence corps include the short-range Iron Dome, the mid-range Patriot and the long-range Arrow II.

Facing potentially imminent attack by the United States and other Western powers over its alleged use of chemical weapons against Syrian rebels, Damascus has hinted it could shoot back at its old foe, the Jewish state. Israel is also braced for rocket salvoes from Hezbollah, Syria’s Lebanese militia ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that his country wanted to keep out of the Syrian crisis but would “respond forcefully” to any attempt to attack it.

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