Britain's Sunday Times newspaper has published more details on Israel's daring raid into Syrian territory last week. The raid has been the subject of intense media speculation following Syria's announcement that Israeli aircraft had penetrated its airspace. The Israeli government refused to comment on the incident. Syria, Iran and North Korea protested the Israeli action, calling it a violation of Syrian sovereignty, and vowed to take the matter before the United Nations. A few days ago, US officials confirmed that Israel had carried out a strike in Syria, but could not reveal what the target was. A US Defence Department official stated that the target was most likely nuclear related and involved North Korea. Later revelations surfaced that Syria may be co-operating with North Korea on the construction of a nuclear facility on its territory. Now it appears that the Israeli strike was planned months in advance, after it was discovered that Syria was planning to acquire a nuclear warhead from North Korea.

Quote: "The paper quoted Israeli sources as saying that planning for the strike began shortly after Meir Dagan, chief of the Mossad intelligence agency, presented Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in late spring with evidence that Syria was seeking to buy a nuclear device from North Korea. Dagan apparently feared such a device could eventually be installed on North-Korean-made Scud-C missiles, the paper reported. Advertisement "This was supposed to be a devastating Syrian surprise for Israel," the Sunday Times quoted an Israeli source as saying. "We've known for a long time that Syria has deadly chemical warheads on its Scuds, but Israel can't live with a nuclear warhead."

In preparation for the strike, Israel had diverted its new Ofek 7 satellite from Iran, and was photographing a facility in the northern region of Syria. The facility was an agricultural research centre on the Euphrates river, which Israel feared was being used to obtain Uranium from phosphates. On September 6th, a North Korean shipment bound for Syria labelled as cement was picked up by Israel. Suspecting the shipment may contain nuclear equipment, the green light was given to the IDF to strike. Only a few government ministers knew about the planned operation, and pilots involved in undertaking the mission were briefed after take-off. An IAF commando unit had been flown into the region a few days prior to the strike, ready to aim lasers at the buildings to guide the missiles to their targets. The IDF doubled its forces on the Golan Heights last month, in preparation for a retaliation from Syria. This lead Russia and Syria to believe that Israel was planning to attack the Golan Heights. But these defences were removed days before the strike occurred, over fears that their presence could actually escalate tension in the region. 

Once again, thanks to Israel the Middle East is a safer place. But the Bible states that possibly during the tribulation period, a war with Syria will erupt which will result in the complete destruction of Damascus. Israeli officials have confirmed that Israel may use nuclear weapons to defend itself if its existence is threatened. My guesses are the city of Damascus will most likely be one of those targets.

Isaiah 17:1-3
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

Source Haaretz, Times Online