# Syria and Israel exchanging missile fire **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284 "2017-12-02T00:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/1 "2017-12-02T00:25:35Z")
> > [@](#): > > #Syrian Military has fired anti-aircraft Missiles at #Israeli warplanes operating near the #Lebanese border. [https://twitter.com/leithfadel/status/936732700429504513](https://twitter.com/leithfadel/status/936732700429504513) > [@](#): > > A soldier just told us an Israeli missile struck a target near the Iranian base in Kesweh. > > [@](#): > > #BREAKING: An #Israeli jet fired a missile and hit an #Iranian target in Kesweh > > [@](#): > > #BREAKING: Unconfirmed reports of dozens more missiles fired by #Israel into #Syria at #Iran bases and Syrian #SAA #Hezbollah bases, large scale operation may well be underway I’d call all of this “unverified” at this point (which is why I posted it in MPSIMS), so take it with a helping of salt. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/2 "2017-12-02T00:41:48Z")
More verification: [http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/07/middleeast/syria-israel/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/07/middleeast/syria-israel/index.html) We’ll see, but these ‘dust-ups’ have occurred before and Israel has a long history of being…proactive…when it comes to their security. Thing to watch now is if there is reaction from Hezbollah (Iran proxy) or Russia that would complicate matters. I think it unlikely, but in the Middle East, you never know, because _everybody_ there is playing some version of 3-dimensional chess. IMHO as always. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/3 "2017-12-02T01:05:40Z")
Syria’s weakened army? After 5 years of civil war, picks a fight with Israel? That makes no sense. The army nearly collapsed before Russia stepped in with their war planes. I hope this is just a one time exchange of rockets. Syria has too much foreign involvement to drag Israel into it too. Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, US, and the ISIS. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/4 "2017-12-02T01:54:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Syria’s weakened army? After 5 years of civil war, picks a fight with Israel? > > That makes no sense. The army nearly collapsed before Russia stepped in with their war planes. It plays well to the Syrian population, which has been indoctrinated for decades to hate Israel. The Assad regime is trying to rebuild its popular support by attacking Israel. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/5 "2017-12-02T03:51:46Z")
So, they want to unite everyone against a common enemy. Makes sense now. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/6 "2017-12-02T05:39:20Z")
Tottingham United vs. Butt-Scabbard UK ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/7 "2017-12-02T10:57:28Z")
Israel has for some unknowable reason decided to cast its lot in with Saudi Arabia. Most likely, Saudi intelligence has gotten hold of some of Netanyahu’s sex tapes. Otherwise why the fuck are they even talking to them, never mind happily doing their bidding. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/8 "2017-12-02T10:58:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It plays well to the Syrian population, which has been indoctrinated for decades to hate Israel. The Assad regime is trying to rebuild its popular support by attacking Israel. The Syrian population? The guys who are either dead, crippled, starving or in exile? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/9 "2017-12-02T14:22:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Israel has for some unknowable reason decided to cast its lot in with Saudi Arabia. Most likely, Saudi intelligence has gotten hold of some of Netanyahu’s sex tapes. Otherwise why the fuck are they even talking to them, never mind happily doing their bidding. They must fear Iran (and the Shiite Crescent) more than Saudi Arabia. When was the last time Saudi Arabia attacked Israel? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/10 "2017-12-02T15:34:27Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Syrian population? The guys who are either dead, crippled, starving or in exile? You feel the entire population of Syria is dead, crippled, starving, or in exile? The civil war is bad but there are several million people who have survived it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/11 "2017-12-02T16:12:26Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Israel has for some unknowable reason decided to cast its lot in with Saudi Arabia. Most likely, Saudi intelligence has gotten hold of some of Netanyahu’s sex tapes. Otherwise why the fuck are they even talking to them, never mind happily doing their bidding. Believe me, Israelis as a whole despise the Saudis. But they haven’t fired missiles at our cities, and Hezbollah has. So we’ll use them if we have to. In a perfect world we’d much rather ally with Iran against the Saudis - the Iranians are an actual country with an actual history. But to the best of my knowledge, they haven’t made any offers. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/12 "2017-12-02T16:17:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You feel the entire population of Syria is dead, crippled, starving, or in exile? The civil war is bad but there are several million people who have survived it. Its obvious hyperbole; but the point is at this point hatred of Israel or another outsider is pretty low on the concerns of the average Syrian. And also Assad. He has won the war now he has to plan for the post-war environment. > [@John Mace](#): > > They must fear Iran (and the Shiite Crescent) more than Saudi Arabia. When was the last time Saudi Arabia attacked Israel? Its extremely stupid.Since 1. The house of Saud’s friendship is a Faustian bargain if there ever was one. 2. Getting into a Shia-Sunni dispute is very stupid, especially if you are not even muslim, but are in the region and do have a restive minority. Also brings with it possible direct conflict with Russia and Iran and a side dish of superpower rivalry into the mix. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/13 "2017-12-02T16:33:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Believe me, Israelis as a whole despise the Saudis. But they haven’t fired missiles at our cities, and Hezbollah has. So we’ll use them if we have to. > > In a perfect world we’d much rather ally with Iran against the Saudis - the Iranians are an actual country with an actual history. But to the best of my knowledge, they haven’t made any offers. Believe me, the costs of an alliance with the House of Saud are such, you’ll wish that they had only fired rockets into your cities. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/14 "2017-12-02T17:09:15Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Its obvious hyperbole; but the point is at this point hatred of Israel or another outsider is pretty low on the concerns of the average Syrian. And also Assad. He has won the war now he has to plan for the post-war environment. When has politics been rational? People get whipped up to be afraid of groups that aren’t a significant threat in order to divert them from the real problems in their life and raise support for the government that’s protecting them from this hypothetical threat. > [@AK84](#): > > The house of Saud’s friendship is a Faustian bargain if there ever was one. I doubt the Israelis or the Saudis see each other as friends or even allies. But in this situation, they have common interests. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/15 "2017-12-02T18:10:57Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Believe me, the costs of an alliance with the House of Saud are such, you’ll wish that they had only fired rockets into your cities. My, what ominous words. Care to back them? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-and-israel-exchanging-missile-fire/803284/16 "2017-12-02T19:33:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > When has politics been rational? People get whipped up to be afraid of groups that aren’t a significant threat in order to divert them from the real problems in their life and raise support for the government that’s protecting them from this hypothetical threat. > I doubt the Israelis or the Saudis see each other as friends or even allies. But in this situation, they have common interests. Yes. They are just playing ‘The enemy of my enemy’ game, both are well versed in it, neither has committed to anything more.