Tensions high as U.S. Patriot missiles arrive in Israel
By Steve Rodan, Middle East Newsline
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
TEL AVIV — A U.S. Army brigade carrying Patriot anti-aircraft
missiles has arrived in Israel as both Israeli and Arab military sources
reported heightened regional tensions.
The U.S. brigade from the 69th Air Defense Artillery arrived in Haifa and is preparing for an exercise, called Juniper Cobra.
The exercise — beginning Thursday and lasting 14 days — is one component of plans to increase U.S.-Israeli
defense coordination amid threats of regional war that could involve Iraq
and Syria.
The sources described Israeli, Iraqi and Lebanese military movements
over the weekend. In Lebanon, the Hizbullah movement deployed short-range rockets near the Israeli border.
Arab military sources said Israel and Hizbullah have beefed up their
forces near the border with Lebanon. On late Sunday, the sources reported
intensified Israeli patrols, deployment of additional tanks as well as
fortified military and civilian outposts.
For its part, Hizbullah was reported to have brought in new batteries of
Katyusha rockets. These include rockets with a range of 70 kilometers,
capable of striking the northern city of Haifa.
In Beirut, Hizbullah deputy chief Naim Kassem said Hizbullah was ready
to confront Israel. Kassem said Israel was confused and the leadership was
under immense strain.
Israeli sources said Iraq continues to bolster its forces near the
Syrian and Jordanian borders. They said nearly two Iraqi divisions are near
the Syrian border in what appears to be a move coordinated with the regime
in Damascus.
The London-based Sunday Times reported that both the Syrian and Israeli
militaries are on full alert.
The United States has relayed messages to Damascus not to cooperate with
Baghdad's plans to escalate tension. On Sunday, U.S. officials called for
restraint, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian mini-war in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip.
Israeli military source said the arrival of the Patriot battery does not
effectively strengthen defense capabilities. The Patriot was developed as
an anti-aircraft missile. But since the Gulf war, Raytheon has improved the
missile so that it can intercept enemy projectiles.
But defense sources said the Patriot is simply too slow to intercept the
more advanced missiles being developed by Egypt, Syria and Iran.
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
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