Israel Says Syria Involved in Terrorist Attacks Against US Troops

October 9, 2003 12:35:54
Reporter: Mark Willacy

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Intensifying the pressure on its northern neighbour, Israel says it has intelligence that Syria is supporting terror attacks against US soldiers in Iraq. The allegation has been made in a briefing given to The World Today by the Chief Advisor to Israel's Defence Minister, who says Damascus is letting militants and weapons pour over its border into Iraq.

Major-General Amos Gilad says Syria's role in the attacks against US forces is well known in the Arab world and in the US State Department. The claims are the latest in a situation that has been gradually escalating, even since before Israel's air attack last weekend deep inside Syrian territory, against an alleged militant training camp.

Middle East Correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Jerusalem.

MARK WILLACY: Amos Gilad reckons Bashar al-Asad is a bit of a slow learner. About a month ago, Israeli war planes buzzed the Syrian President at his coastal holiday palace. And despite Israel's bombing raid near Damascus, Major General Gilad believes Bashar al-Asad probably still won't get the message.

AMOS GILAD: The Syrians, with the long experience I have with them, will consider their policy but they will not change their policy of supporting terror. And that's why I don't see any fundamental change &Mac246; unless, unless they will be convinced that Israel is very serious to continue its effort to prevent any kind of act of terror, and we are serious.

MARK WILLACY: So serious, in fact, that the Israeli military has released a map of Damascus pinpointing ten sites which it says are the homes and offices of senior Palestinian militant leaders. The message to Hamas and Islamic Jihad bosses in Syria is clear &Mac246; we know where you live.

But the Chief Advisor to Israel's Defence Minister says Bashar al-Asad isn't just harbouring Palestinian militants.

AMOS GILAD: The Syrians are supporting indirectly terror in Iraq against the Americans. How are they doing it? They are supporting the terror by letting the terrorists penetrate from Syria to Iraq and to smuggle out. Why is it so important? Because they are claiming, "we don't know anything about it".

MARK WILLACY: Major General Amos Gilad says 120 of the foreign fighters captured by US forces in Iraq are Syrian. And he says the Bush Administration is well aware of Damascus's role in supporting the resistance to the US occupation.

AMOS GILAD: Syria is supporting this terror. I would like to emphasise it. It is known everywhere. I mean, technically it's a secret, but everybody, if you ask in the State Department, in Europe, or Arab countries &Mac246; everywhere. It's known that Syria is supporting, it's a known pattern of support.

MARK WILLACY: Major General Gilad would not discuss what Israel's next move against its northern neighbour would be. But for its part, Syria is warning Israel against repeating its bombing raid. Syria's ambassador to Spain, Mohsen Bilal, says Damascus will respond militarily to future attacks.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Mark Willacy reporting from Jerusalem.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s963619.htm