Monthly Archives: March 2007

"The Syrians have been very cautious and acted very quietly, but there is a new situation along their southern border," an official said.

In recent years, wanted Tanzim operatives from villages in the area have routinely used the structures of the different security apparatuses of the Palestinian Authority as hiding places from Israeli security forces, and as bases of operations from which they were dispatched for terrorist attacks and to which they returned afterwards.

"The prospect of an Iranian retaliation or provocation exists," an Israeli official said.

"They are very capable, competent, and the ability to plan and coordinate operations with coalition forces gets better every day," Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief of staff of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's aides left for the U.S. against the backdrop of growing concern in Israel that the administration will change its position and agree to engage the Hamas-Fatah government in dialogue.