Netanyahu: Hizbullah Operates Scuds on Syrian Soil; Israel to Deploy Subs in Gulf

In Paris to attend the conference of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development where Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was in attendance to accept Israel’s membership into the organization, Netanyahu reiterated to world leaders that Hizbullah is operating a Scud missile base on Syrian soil. According to reports in Israeli media, one such conversation was with Italian Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi. On Friday, The Times (London) reported that it had been shown intelligence photos proving the existence of secret Hizbullah bases in Syria where Scuds and other sophisticated missiles are manned by Hizbullah. The newspaper said Hizbullah is allowed to “operate freely” at the Syrian sites. The Times also reported that Israel almost launched a strike at a Syrian missile convoy until the Americans asked for another shot at dealing with the issue diplomatically. That was followed by Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) second trip in quick succession to Damascus to confront Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad. Media reports indicate the Syrian leader stone-walled Kerry, denying any knowledge of the weapons that appear in the intelligence photos. The Times on Sunday reported that Israel will deploy three Dolphin-class submarines armed with nuclear cruise missiles in the Gulf off the Iranian coast in order to gather intelligence; act as a deterrent; and “possibly insert Mossad [intelligence agency] agents into Iran.”