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South Ossetia battles intensify after failed Security Council ceasefire bid
DEBKAfile Special Report
August 9, 2008, 8:49 AM (GMT+02:00)

Russian tank forces stream to South Ossetia
Moscow pumped more troops to the embattled breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia as the flare-up Saturday, Aug. 9 edged toward all-out war. Friday night, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a ceasefire text.
DEBKAfile reports that, amid conflicting casualty and other reports from the Russia and Georgia, the bloodshed is mounting. Moscow is clearly determined to continue to bomb Georgia into withdrawing its troops from South Ossetia.
So far, Russian combat planes have kept mostly to striking military installations across the tiny Caucasian country of Georgia, including the Vaziani military base used by NATO, leaving scores of dead and hundreds of wounded. But if the pro-American president Mikhail Shaakashvili perseveres in keep his army in South Ossetia, after capturing its capital Friday, Russian attacks will expand to Georgia’s centers of government in Tbilisi.
Overnight, Russia bombers struck an oil pipeline from Azerbaijan.
Saakashvili was disappointed in his hope of US and Europe coming to his aid in the crisis. They are willing to mediate a halt in violence but taking good care to avoid being drawn into a war against Russia.
The Israeli military advisers commissioned by the Georgian president tried to hold back Friday’s invasion of Tskhinvali. They are now urging him to pull his army out of South Ossetia before it is overpowered and decimated by superior Russian tank forces.
Read DEBKAfile’s exclusive analysis below on the causes underlying the Caucasian conflict and the presence of Israeli military advisers. 

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US sources hint that by rejecting Iran sanctions, Moscow opens door to Israeli attack
DEBKAfile Special Report
August 7, 2008, 11:27 AM (GMT+02:00)

Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin: Nyet to Iran sanctions
Sources in Washington commented Wednesday night, Aug. 6, that, while it is unlikely that Israel would attack Iran without US approval, this might change if tough sanctions were taken off the table.
DEBKAfile reports that this information was leaked by Washington sources, apparently to warn Moscow that by closing the door to sanctions, it was opening the door to an Israeli attack.
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