May 17, 2013 Briefs:
*Obama still not convinced
President Barack Obama said Thursday the US has seen evidence of chemical weapons being used in Syria but more specific details needed – after Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented him with a file containing the testimony of Turkish physicians who treated Syrian patients and diagnosed them as suffering from poison chemical substances. Obama has so far rejected all the evidence put before him of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
*CIA chief in Israel
John Brennan arrived Thursday for his first visit to Israel as CIA Director. He will be discussing the Israel’s security in the light of the latest developments of the Syrian war with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and other Israeli officials.
*New York cigarette smugglers fund terrorists
Two suspected ringleaders of a multimillion cigarette smuggling network, brothers Basel and Samir Ramadan, were arrested in Maryland, as well as 16 other suspects, all Palestinian immigrants, in New York City, New Jersey and Delaware. The brothers were found with $1.5 million – a fraction of what they made, said state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. Under investigation are concerns that the ring funneled profits to Hamas and Hizballah for terrorist operations and its ties with Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheikh serving life for conspiracy to blow up New York City landmarks.
*Four Russian S-300 batteries shipped to Syria
Moscow reports that four batteries of S-300 systems with 100-150 simultaneously deployable, guided anti-aircraft missiles have already been shipped to Syria complete with Russian military “adviser” crews. DEBKAfile: An Israeli strike to smash this weapon would entail hitting their Russian crews.
*Russia sends Syria upgraded anti-ship cruise missiles
US officials report the delivery to the Syrian government Yakhont anti-ship cruise missile updated with advanced radar for extending is range and accuracy. It is designed to counter any effort by international forces to supply Syrian rebels from the sea, impose a naval embargo, establish a no-fly zone or carry out limited strikes. DEBKAfile adds: The improved Yakhont enables Syria to keep Israeli missile ships far from its coast and block troop landings.
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