|
Trending Topics
|
Israel and U.S. Working Together to Blunt Iran's Expansion in Syria
(Wall Street Journal) Dion Nissenbaum and Rory Jones - With tacit American support, the Israeli military targeted an advanced Iranian Tor air-defense system at a Syrian base last week, intelligence officials in Washington said, the latest sign the Trump administration is working with Israel to blunt Tehran's expanding influence in the Middle East. After conferring with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered a strike on the newly arrived antiaircraft battery to prevent Iranian forces from using it against Israeli planes in Syria. Iran is flying weapons into Khmeimim Air Base, a well-defended Russian base on the Mediterranean coast, according to intelligence officials. Iran also has rebuilt a presence at Damascus International Airport after a 2015 airstrike. It now serves as a base for Iran's Quds Force, which has built underground storage tunnels to safeguard weaponry.