Israeli Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel said Wednesday that Russian S-300 missile defense systems will arrive in Syria to aid the Assad regime's forces. He said the defenses would not deter Israel if it decided a strike on Syria was necessary, reports Ynet News:
"This does not mean we will act, but it means we must be ready with our planes and missile defense systems. No one is going to tell us 'take two weeks to prepare for the war.' We will have to be ready for confrontations in Gaza and Lebanon, including long-range ones. Failure to prepare for this would mean a failure to learn the lessons of the Yom Kippur War."
Additionally, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Benny Gantz denied claims that the Israel jeep attacked this week by Syria crossed the border.
"[T]he patrol was most definitely traveling along the Syrian border fence, but it did not infiltrate into Syrian territory; that is nonsense."
"The patrol was fired at once, then a second time and a third time, all of which undoubtedly from the Syrian post."
