Israel May Strike Syria Over Pair of Suicide Bombings

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-busbombs2sep02.story
THE WORLD
Israel May Strike Syria Over Pair of Suicide Bombings
Officials say they have evidence that Hamas leaders in that country directed the bus attacks.
By Laura King
Times Staff Writer

September 2, 2004

JERUSALEM — Israel on Wednesday bluntly threatened to attack targets in Syria to retaliate for a pair of near-simultaneous suicide bombings that killed 16 passengers and wounded dozens of others aboard two crowded commuter buses in the southern city of Beersheba.

Although the bombers belonged to a local cell of the Palestinian militant group Hamas operating out of the West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli officials said there was direct evidence that Hamas leaders in Damascus, the Syrian capital, had orchestrated Tuesday's attack.

"Syria is continuing to harbor the leaders of these terrorist groups," said Raanan Gissin, a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "That's where the orders emanated from — we have hard proof of that. And geographical location is not going to serve as immunity for anyone."

A similarly worded warning came from the Israeli army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, speaking to a parliamentary committee. "Anyone responsible for terror against us shouldn't sleep soundly at night," he said.

Yaalon cited as potential targets the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah and "the terrorist command in Damascus, which operate with Syrian approval."<snip>

(from papaus article)

The Kawasme cell in Hebron has a reputation, even among fellow militants, as a rogue operation that plans and carries out its own attacks, largely to avenge its dead rather than to pursue a larger political goal.




Israel Warns Syria on Deadly Bus Blasts

By MARK LAVIE
.c The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli leaders warned Syria on Wednesday that it bears the
blame for a double suicide bombing by Hamas militants because it harbors the
group's leadership, and they hinted at possible retaliation.

<snip>

A Hamas cell in the West Bank city of Hebron claimed responsibility for
Tuesday's bombings, identifying the bombers as Ahmed Kawasmeh, 26, and Nassim
Jabari, 22. They had known each other for years and were members of a secretive
Hamas cell led by Kawasmeh's cousin, Imad, a top fugitive.

The Kawasmeh clan is one of the largest in Hebron, and has dispatched five
suicide bombers in recent years. Israeli troops destroyed Ahmed Kawasmeh's
family apartment, arrested three of his brothers and sealed off Hebron.   


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040902/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_31

He brought a whole new era of warfare to the region. You don't have to actually be INVOLVED in the crime, but if we think you might have wanted to be we are going to bomb the shit out of you.

Neat.

Israel is takin a page out of our new book, titled "War & War".