Israel Strikes Damascus, Increases Cooperation With US, Prepares For Attack On Iran

After Benjamin Netanyahu was re-sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel, he said that the new government's first task will be to prevent Iran from destroying Israel with an atomic bomb. Image | IAF, enhanced by Donald Standeford.

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
January 03, 2023 04:30 am UTC
Modified: 2023-01-03 04:30 am

SYRIA - Israel carried out a missile strike on the Damascus Airport on Monday, killing four people, two of which were Syrian soldiers. The country is also boosting cooperation with the US, and preparing for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Observatory told AFP, "Four fighters including two Syrian soldiers were killed," adding that “positions for Hezbollah and pro-Iranian groups inside the airport and its surroundings, including a weapons warehouse".

Syrian state news agency SANA had initially reported that explosions were heard near Damascus, Syria and that Syrian air defense systems had been activated.

i24NEWS cited Syrian State media as saying that Israel allegedly carried out a strike on Damascus early Monday and that Syrian air defenses responded to the alleged Israeli attack.

The Syrian military also reported that Israeli airstrikes had damaged the Damascus International Airport and caused it to cease operations, bringing it temporarily out of service.

SANA tweeted, "Military source: The Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression at dawn today with bursts of missiles from the direction of the northeast of Lake Tiberias, targeting Damascus International Airport and its surroundings".

Reuters also cited regional intelligence sources as saying that the alleged airstrikes hit an outpost controlled by the Iranian Quds Force and militias associated with the Quds force.

Six US Fighter Jets Deploy To Israeli Air Base

Six U.S. F-15 fighter jets have been temporarily deployed to the Nevatim Air Base in Southern Israel as part of the ACE deployment taking place in the coming week.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) put out a statement that said, "Six U.S. F-15 fighter jets landed at Nevatim AFB today as part of the ACE deployment that will take place this coming week."

It added, "The forces will simulate joint flights and target strikes with IDF F-35I "Adir" and "Nachshon" (G5) aircraft".

Israeli news The Times Of Israel reported that the deployment of the American fighter jets to the Israeli base is part of a "military tactic to constantly disperse its aircraft at various airbases".

The U.S. aircraft will be carrying out joint drills this week with a fleet of Israel's F-35 stealth fighters, along with a squadron of intelligence-gathering Gulfstream G550 aircraft, according to the report.

The drills will be simulating strikes deep within enemy territory according to the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

The deployment by the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) is called "agile combat employment" where aircraft are deployed to forward operating positions in allied countries around the world, rather than at normal operating bases.

The move is meant to limit the ability of enemy forces to damage the U.S. Air Force and enable it to respond rapidly to events, according to U.S. defense officials.

Israel has greatly increased its defense budget to prepare for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, and after Benjamin Netanyahu was re-sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel, he said that the new government's first task will be to prevent Iran from destroying Israel with an atomic bomb.

Israeli Defense Requests Budget Increased To $3 Billion To Prepare For Attack On Iran

The Israeli defense establishment has requested an additional 10 billion Israeli New Shekels (Nearly $3 billion USD) for the country's defense budget for 2023 in order to prepare for a military operation in Iran, and to deal with the effects of inflation.

The increase was reported by the Israeli KANN news agency which says that (from translation) the increase is at a rate of about 12% of the current budget and that the increase is an "unusual budget increase".

The news agency cited the defense system as saying that the additional funds are necessary to "properly prepare for a military operation in Iran" and to deal with "budget erosion in light of inflation and the horizontal cuts".

At the end of December, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion spending bill that included $3.8 billion for Israel which adds funding to restock the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system which was depleted after the 2021 Gaza war. It also included $300 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

Netanyahu Sworn In As Israeli Prime Minister, Vows To Prevent Iran From Nuking Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Israel after previously holding the office from 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021. He says the new government's first task will be to prevent Iran from destroying Israel with an atomic bomb. 

Netanyahu said "The first task is to make sure that Iran does not destroy us with an atom bomb". 

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said, "Netanyahu just said that the first task is to halt Iran from growing stronger and I agree with that".

He continued, "Contrary to all the forecasts and prophecies of doom, our government managed to stop the resigning of the deal with Iran. It involved complex diplomatic efforts, some under the radar with the American government and Europe, the result is well known". 

"The sanctions on Iran remained enforced and were expanded," he added.