Israeli air force hits Hamas-Gaza hard amid Lebanon border tensions
DEBKAfile Special Report
May 20, 2009, 8:40 AM (GMT+02:00)
Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter-bombers
In response to twin Qassam missile attack on Sderot from Gaza Tuesday, May 19, the Israeli Air Force went into action early Wednesday against a range of Hamas positions in Rafah, Khan Younes, Zeitun and Tufah suburbs of Gaza city and, Deir Balakh. DEBKAfile's military sources report that several Sinai-Gaza smuggling tunnels, missile foundries and three Hamas command posts in Gaza City were struck in Israel's most extensive Gaza raid since its major offensive ended in January. The Palestinians reported casualties.
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Iran stops funding for Russian MiG-31E Interceptor sale to Syria
DEBKAfile Special Report
May 20, 2009, 1:00 PM (GMT+02:00)
DEBKAfile's military and Iranian sources report that Moscow cancelled the $1 billion dollar sale because Tehran withheld funding as a cautionary step for Damascus against its going too far in its flirtations with Washington and Ankara.
The transaction signed in 2006 provided for Russia to sell the Syrian air force an unspecified number of advanced MiG-29M/M2 fighter-bombers and 8 MiG-29M/M2 fighters.
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Diskin: Hamas won't give Mid East peace a chance, can be toppled
DEBKAfile Special Report
May 19, 2009, 8:11 AM (GMT+02:00)
Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin
US president Barack Obama's plan to launch a fresh Middle East initiative is a non-starter as long as the extremist Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, said Shin Bet (internal security agency) director Yuval Diskin Tuesday, May 19. He was commenting on the extensive talks the US president held with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the White House Monday.
In Gaza, the Hamas spokesman denounced the US president and forbade the Palestinian Authority to engage in peace talks.
Israel's policy-makers must decide once and for all whether to topple the Hamas regime which in his view can be done without reoccupying the Gaza Strip.
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