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US Treasury targets Syria-based al Qaeda facilitator for Iraq

DEBKAfile Special Report

May 18, 2009, 1:57 PM (GMT+02:00)

US Marines patrol al Qaeda Syria-Iraq river route

DEBKAfile's counter-terror sources report that Saad Uwayyid Ubayd Mujil al Shammari aka Abu Khalaf - named by Washington as the senior leader of al Qaeda's Syria-based support network – has been permitted by Damascus to step up the flow of suicide bombers into Iraq to 20-30 a month. Syrian president Assad let al Qaeda reuse its old Euphrates route when he thought the thaw with Washington was safely on track.
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No agreement on Iran, Palestinians in Obama-Netanyahu talks

DEBKAfile Special Report

May 18, 2009, 10:51 PM (GMT+02:00)

Friendly disagreement

US president Barak Obama stood by his demand for a Palestinian state while Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu continued to avoid this formula in their talks at the White House Monday, May 18, their first since both took office. Still the atmosphere in the three-and-a-half hour conversation was friendly and earnest as the two agreed to disagree.
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TOP STORIES

• •No agreement on Iran, Palestinians in Obama-Netanyahu talks
• •Suspected Israeli spies flee across border from Lebanon
• •US Treasury targets Syria-based al Qaeda facilitator for Iraq
• •Jordan's Abdullah to name his 9-year son crown prince, sack Hazme
• •Delhi thinks Pak N-sites in radical hands - India Times from DEBKA
• •Washington threatens to evacuate three US bases over Qatar's pro-Iran policy
• •US upholds Israel's nuclear position as long as Iran enriches uranium
• •Taliban spreads its wings outside Afghan-Pakistan theater
• •CIA chief visits Israel, mixed Washington assessments on Iran

Hizballah raises border tensions over suspected Israeli spies in flight

DEBKAfile Special Report

May 18, 2009, 5:08 PM (GMT+02:00)

Israel-Lebanese border fence

In Lebanon's over-heated pre-election climate, government security forces report that Elie al-Hayek, 49, a mathematics professor from Qleia, who walks on crutches, fled to Israel on Monday, May 18, with his wife and three children.

As a campaign stunt, Hizballah is capable of using the spy episode, whether true or fictional, and the escape of suspects to inflame border tension with Israel.
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