Speaking with Channel 2 News on Tuesday night, the eve of 22 Elul 5773, retired Israel Navy Commander Admiral Eliezer Merom feels an American assault against targets in Syria is almost a certainty. He feels the US action against Syria will be “very short, less than 24 hours providing Assad does not retaliate”. Meron declined to respond to a number of questions that would have detailed some of the US’ operational abilities for obvious reasons.

Admiral Meron explains what is critical is the selection of targets and to avoid error or even coming too close to civilians. He feels that an offensive launched from US battleships or aerial assaults from planes taking off in regional bases are both realistic options that can be executed with a minimum of risk to the US forces.

Meron highlighted “I do not like the use of the term ‘punish Syria’ that I am hearing in the media. For one thing, it is against international law and HKBH and in our world the courts are the ones that punish. The US is planning to send a message to Syria, to restore deterrence and persuade him to refrain from using chemical weapons again. This is deterrence, not punishment.”

It is clear in Israel senior cabinet ministers and the IDF’s General Staff have been briefed and Israel is in sync with the Pentagon. There is much speculation and uncertainty, but what appears certain today is that US President Barak Obama appears to moving ahead with an offensive, making good on his warning to Syria that if the chemical weapons red line is crossed, there would be a price to pay.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)