Syria threatens Israel with ‘all options;’ Israel bolsters defenses; Russia and China express concerns.

Syrian soldier wearing chemical weapon protection

Israel’s attacks into Syria are alarming the Syrians, Russians, and Chinese, while also somewhat alarming Israel’s defenses:

May 06, 2013

Russia and China have joined U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in expressing concern about what intelligence officials say were Israeli airstrikes Sunday against military targets outside Syria’s capital.

China’s foreign ministry said Monday it opposes the use of force, and reiterated its call that national sovereignty be respected.

Russia further expressed concern the conflict in Syria could spread…

Anonymous intelligence sources in the Middle East said Israel targeted highly accurate Fatah-110 guided missiles shipped from Iran and stored in a warehouse at Damascus International Airport that were intended for the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group to use against Israel.

Israeli lawmaker Tzachi Hanegbi, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, did not confirm Israel was behind the airstrikes, but said Monday if there was any Israeli activity, it was against Hezbollah and not Syria.

Condemnation

Syria condemned the airstrike, describing the attacks as aiming “to give direct military support to terrorist groups” fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said Sunday in a letter sent to the U.N. Security Council that the “Israeli aggression” killed and wounded several people and “caused widespread destruction.”

Iran also condemned the airstrikes and urged countries in the region to stand against the “assault.”

The Israeli military later deployed two batteries of its Iron Dome missile defense system near its northern border. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-china-concerned-about-israeli-airstrikes-in-syria/1655183.html

May 5, 2013

BEIRUT — The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Sunday that a series of powerful Israeli airstrikes near the Syrian capital opened the door to “all the options,” underscoring the possibility that Syria’s civil war could spill across regional borders.

Assad’s cabinet held an emergency meeting Sunday after explosions lit up the sky on the outskirts of Damascus on Friday and early Sunday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syria-threatens-all-options-after-israeli-airstrikes/2013/05/05/a23f2f68-b5ab-11e2-b568-6917f6ac6d9d_story.html

May 6, 2013

JERUSALEM, May 6 (Reuters) – Israel sought to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday that its recent air strikes around Damascus did not aim to weaken him in the face of a more than two-year-old rebellion.

Officials say Israel is reluctant to take sides in Syria’s civil war for fear its actions would boost Islamists who are even more hostile to Israel than the Assad family, which has maintained a stable stand off with the Jewish state for decades. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/israel-assad-syria-airstrikes-did-not-aim-to-help-rebels_n_3221250.html?utm_hp_ref=world&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D308819

May 6, 2013

(CBS News) Israel is fortifying its northern defenses following two airstrikes within Syria targeting weapons allegedly being shipped to the militant group Hezbollah – strikes that have raised tension in the region and which one Syrian official described as tantamount to a “declaration of war.”

The Israelis still aren’t admitting they did it and how, but no one doubts they did. The condemnation so far has been more ritual than emphatic, perhaps because of the targets.

The massive explosions that rocked the Syrian capital destroyed shipments of missiles bound for Israel’s arch enemy Hezbollah, according to unnamed Israeli officials. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57582962/israel-bolsters-northern-defenses-after-strikes-against-syria/

Perhaps I should add here that despite some misunderstandings by some related to Ezekiel 38 (for details on Russia in prophecy, including explanations of the timing of Russia’s roles in Ezekiel 38 and 39, please see the article Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future, Russia itself is not about to take over Israel as it is NOT the King of the North of Daniel 11 (for more details, please check out the article Is Russia the King of the North? and/or the related video Is Russia the King of the North? ) nor is China about to takeover Israel’s strongest military ally the USA (for more details, please check out the video Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?).

As far as “all options” go, Syria has, in the past, admitted to having both chemical and biological weapons. As I have written for a long time, the situation in Syria must change. And it more and more is.

If Syria decides to retaliate, let’s say somewhat covertly with biological weapons, this could really change the Middle East as if it were successful enough, Israel could conceivably even use nuclear weapons against Syria and/or Iran. Since the Bible is clear that Syria’s capital Damascus must be destroyed per Isaiah 17:1, it will be (for more details, you can also view the relatively short YouTube video Damascus and Syria in Prophecy).

Islamic prophecy also tells of the destruction of Syria’s capital Damascus.

Getting back to the Bible, it strongly suggests that Syria will be involved in a confederation of North African and Middle Eastern nations (Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) who will support a leader that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). Since the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood wants a similar confederation, I have long believed that Syria will align with it or a group like it–and since Syria’s Shi’ite President Assad is opposed to that, he will have to go or change his views.

Whether it will be from the Syrian opposition to the Assad regime, actions by the Assad regime itself, other conflicts, and/or intervention from Israel, Syria will change and its capital Damascus will be destroyed. (Though this does not mean that Israel and/or the USA will not have problems themselves.)

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? Is there a needed peace deal first in the Middle East? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.