US Nimitz aircraft carrier headed closer to Syria

The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes a guided missile cruiser and four destroyers, was kept in the Indian Ocean for a "prudent responsible decision," an official told the television channel.

Five US destroyers are now positioned in eastern Mediterranean waters, up from the usual three that normally focus on countering Iranian ballistic missile threats to Europe. The destroyers -- the USS Stout, Mahan, Ramage, Barry and Graveley -- are ready to fire cruise missiles if President Barack Obama gives the order.

In a surprise move, Obama has delayed the threat of missile strikes against Damascus that had appeared imminent, saying he would first seek formal approval from Congress.

Syria: US prepares for potential missile strike

An additional warship (equipped with ballistic missiles) was dispatched to the region late Friday, joining the three other Sixth Fleet's ships currently there to prepare a possible long-range missile strike against the Syrian government.

All four ships are capable of launching cruise subsonic missiles BGM-109 Tomahawk to reach land targets. Commanders of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean ordered warships to move closer to Israel, so they would be in better striking range to hit forces in Syria. The maximum range for Tomahawk Cruise Missiles is about 1,500 Km, enough to reach Syrian government targets.

Possible targets include command bunkers and missile sites that could be used to launch chemical-tipped missiles. On Saturday, humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders said approximately 3,600 patients were treated with "neurotoxic symptoms" at three hospitals outside Damascus early Wednesday, following a series of missile strikes. 

Siria: Incertidumbre sobre la autoría del ataque a un arsenal de misiles Yakhont

 

Opositores al régimen del presidente sirio han señalado que no fueron sus tropas sino fuerzas extranjeras las que han destruído en fechas recientes un arsenal de misiles rusos antibuque Yakhont almacenados en la base militar de Safira, cerca de la ciudad portuaria de Latakia.

 

 

Sobre la transcendencia del ataque merece la pena recordar que los misiles supersónicos Yakhont tienen un alcance de 300 kilómetros, una ojiva explosiva de 250 kilogramos, y se desplazan con una velocidad superior al doble de la velocidad del sonido. (340 m/s x 2 = 680 m/s)

 

 

Los insurgentes han puntualizado que la ferocidad del ataque no se corresponde con el poder de fuego y la capacidad de las fuerzas insurgentes, sino mas bien con la potencia de fuego del ejército de Israel. Esta hipótesis ha sido desmentida sin embargo por el ministro de Defensa de Israel, Moshé Yaalón, quien se ha defendido de las acusaciones de los rebeldes sirios en los siguientes términos: "Hace mucho tiempo que venimos diciendo que no nos estamos implicando en la sangrienta guerra civil en Siria. Hemos trazado nuestras líneas rojas y nos mantenemos en ellas".

 

 

Técnicamente en guerra con Siria, Israel ha pasado décadas en un estancamiento estable con Damasco bajo el gobierno de la familia Assad y ha sido reticente a intervenir abiertamente en el conflicto que sacude a Siria.

War of words over anti-aircraft missiles could escalate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to warn that should Russia deliver the system to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the S-300 ”is likely to draw us into a response and could send the region deteriorating into war”. Also, Israel’s Defence Minister, Moshe Yaalon, and Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz have said Israel would not hesitate to destroy the S-300 system rather than see it in Syrian hands. (Read more)