Syrian drone over Golan followed Trump-Putin disagreement on Syrian buffer zones
The Syrian UAV was sent over the Golan, likely with Russian approval, to probe Israel’s flexibility on the buffer zones for keeping Syrian/Iranian/Hizballah forces far from its borders.
The Syrian UAV which flew over the Golan demilitarized zone Saturday, Nov. 11, was a direct result of the failure of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach an agreement in time for the Danang summit in Vietnam on the political and military future of Syria. They were at odds in particular on the depth of the buffer zone to be carved out between Syria and Israel. This is reported exclusively by DEBKAfile’s sources.
The Syrian UAV was sent over the Golan, presumably with Russian approval, to probe Israel’s reactions and find out how far into Israeli air space the drone would be permitted to enter. This probe was to be taken as a measure of Israeli flexibility and willingness to accept a buffer zone between IDF positions and Syrian/Iranian/Hizballah forces of less than 30-40km deep.
Israel struck back and launched a Patriot missile defense system which intercepted the Syrian drone before it crossed the border and reached Israeli air space over the Golan. No breach of Israel’s sovereignty was allowed to occur.
Neither did a “high-ranking IDF source” need to offer reassurance that the Russian liaison apparatus was kept in the picture, since the Russian officers in Syria must have tracked the UAV and taken note of the message Israel relayed by shooting it down.
Our sources add that the Trump administration, as well as Moscow, is pushing Israel hard for flexibility as to the depth of the Syrian buffer zone. But the Netanyahu government has not so far given way, in the knowledge that Tehran fully intends to maintain military strength together with its proxies, including Hizballah, in post-war Syria.
The BBC revelation of Friday, Nov. 11, supported by large satellite images, that Iran is building a permanent base in Syria just 50km from the Israeli-Syrian Golan border, was intended to show that Israeli leaders don’t mean what they say. The site cited by “Western intelligence sources” is El-Kiswah, 14km from Damascus, where Syrian military facilities already exist
The British report contains several quotes of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s declarations that Israel will not permit Iran to establish a military presence in Syria that threatens its borders.
The May government has a bone to pick with Netanyahu on other issues. The Brits, whom both Washington and Moscow have cut out of decision-making on Syria’s future, were also taking a dig at them both by showing that Tehran is out of their control.
The buffer zone is not the only topic on which Trump and Putin are in discord on the shape of post-war Syria.
The plan for a US-Russian deal on a final accommodation was meant to ride on the momentum of the recent military successes in pushing ISIS back from eastern Syria and into western Iraq. Both presidents felt that these victories were too good not to use for working together on Syria’s future. Therefore, when ISIS strongholds in Al Qaim, Iraq and Abu Kamal, Syria fell to joint Iraqi-Syrian-Hizballah-pro-Iranian Shiite militia forces in the last two weeks, both the US and Russia were eager to seize star roles as victors by forging a final accord for ending the Syrian war.
However, the US and Russian teams working on a draft accord found the gaps between them too great to bridge at this time. The are at loggerheads on major issues< such as the political future of Bashar Assad – how long he would remain president and how much power must he hand over to Syrian opposition groups in a government coalition. Neither do they see eye to eye on the disposition of foreign armies to remain in the country, specifically Iran’s role in the new Syria.
Last Friday, Nov. 10, DEBKAfile reported that the differences between Trump and Putin on the Syrian issue had prevented the release of a statement of accord. The US president insisted that without an accord there would be no formal sit-down at the Vietnam Asian summit.
Nonetheless, the negotiating teams did achieve progress on two points, our sources report: It was decided to expand the d-escalation zones already operating in Syria and also to boost the joint US-Russian Monitoring Center based in Amman – not only to prevent accidental clashes between Russian and US forces, but also between their local allies.
The problem is Golan belong to Syrian, so it easy thing, give Golan back to Syrian and make peace. The thief always feel threatened and suspicious to others
Nope – How stupid are you?
Syria attacks Israel multiple times and permits terrorists to attack them…
What kind of moron would cede high ground so that their enemies can shell them with impunity?
Assad and Syrians are such crybaby losers lmao – a tiny bunch of Jews defeated your “ummah”
Ok, they’ll give Golan back, but this time when Assad attacks Israel will capture Dasmascus and raze it to the ground – would you prefer that?
I agree completely. Regards
Just follow UN resolutions and international laws you stupid Patriot, a true patriot would love his native country much than other.
“Just follow UN resolutions”
“worldcitizen”, are you referring to the ones dictated by the Arab League and third world countries totally controlled and influenced by them at the UN?
Well whatever the lame excuses, it still belong to Syria and no one outside Israel says otherwise.
As to attack Damascus is concerned, Hez is now talking about the next war would be in Israel as surely Russia and mainly Iran and Hez will not allow it.
My guess is it will never happen as Syrian forces and allies are already battle hardened esp for urban war fare
So peace is the best. Follow the ways of China which work on peaceful resolution and win win for all.
War is costly…. Just comprehend to US constant wars vs China’s constant business development to all countries.
Look at Singapore, a small island based on trade with among highest GDP.
Today is a global world. Land is not the main driver of economic growth anymore
Interesting reply.
You do know Singapore is an Israeli subsidiary in all but name?
When it was founded in the 70’s it reached out to all western nations to assist it with setting up a country. All shirked it, except Israel, which agreed to lend assistance, sent advisors, and instructed the Singaporians on how to construct EVERYTHING, they designed their civilisation from the ground up.
Government, Public service, tax code, military, etc, etc etc.Its a clone of Israel governance.
You’re so impressed with Singapore? Well mate, its what Israel may have been if it hadn’t been fighting for its very survival since its founding. Thats Israels fate. Blaming the victim of circumstance is extremely short sighted.
China, another kettle of fish. China is now elbowing its way into its own right. You say its doing so peacefully. We may have a different definition of peace. They’re dispossessing their neighbours of land left right and centre and have been since their founding, incidentally in the same year as Israel.
If they’re so peaceful, where are the Tibetans today? A country of 5 million people when China annexed it, now its 3 million of whom 1 million are imported Han chines. thousands of ancient temples eradicated… Peace huh? Maybe Tacitus’s peace, they make a wasteland and call it peace…
Quit throwing stones at stuff you dont understand. Read, stop being one of Lenins useful idiots.
“Look at Singapore, a small island based on trade with among highest GDP”.
So Syria should be as large as Singapore.
I fully agree with you, all the more that when you see what the regime is doing with it’s huge territory and its inhabitants , the less they manage the better it is.
The general assembly of UN is made of rogue states, dictatorships, and European dhimmis. Israel is a democracy, its citizens decide. Foreign dictatorships and corrupt democracies have no legitimacy.
yeah, poor defenseless Israel cannot defend without Syrian and Palestinian land. Just keep taking. Why not take another 50km ffor a ‘buffer zone’? How could they stop you?
“yeah, poor defenseless Israel cannot defend without Syrian and Palestinian land. Just keep taking. Why not take another 50km ffor a ‘buffer zone’? How could they stop you?”
The land of Israel has belonged to the Jewish people for well over 3000 years, long before the Romans invented the name “Palestine”. The so-called “Palestinians” are indistinguishable from all other Arabs and their clans originated from Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Libya and the Arabian Gulf region. In fact, Yasser Arafat was really born in Egypt, not Jerusalem!
So what “Palestinian land” are you talking about?
Dear fellow reader
It is true what you had said about the Jewish people, but mind you I the Jewish people about whom you are talking had eased to exist long long time ago… Their only legal heirs are the Palestinians… D. N. A tests had proved my allegations… Present day (Jewish people) are only (Jewish) but they belong to every people, Ukrainians, Moroccan, Ethiopians, Nigerians, etc… You will recognize their real ethnicity often from their faces…. And so the Palestinians.. They have the same D. N. A. E like their ancestors who lived in the Holy land thousands of years back. If you study history you will be shocked.
“It is true what you had said about the Jewish people, but mind you I the Jewish people about whom you are talking had eased to exist long long time ago… Their only legal heirs are the Palestinians…”
Dear (fellow reader) Nader Yassin:
Nothing could be furthest from the truth than what you claim above. The Jewish people whose ancestry is traceable back to their ancient homeland in Israel are alive and well and their DNA proves they are from that region. As for the Palestinians, just review my previous comment:
“The land of Israel has belonged to the Jewish people for well over 3000 years, long before the Romans invented the name “Palestine”. The so-called “Palestinians” are indistinguishable from all other Arabs and their clans originated from Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Libya and the Arabian Gulf region. In fact, Yasser Arafat was really born in Egypt, not Jerusalem!
So what “Palestinian land” are you talking about?”
AMEN – It’d be near-suicide for Israel to cede Golan that Israel took in 1973 in a war Syria started
It is well understood that Israel is the greatest winner in what has been happening now in the middle east. A lot of casualties and sacrifices are occurring to the best interests of Israel. Therefore, you could easily say now that Neten can destroy Damascus as he can give this order to his puppet Bashar without his direct intervention. All this is understood!
However, study carefully what will be emerging from the sacrifice, theses people are suffering, it will be a new fearless generation who does not follow Facebook or pop stars. They will change the game in this region. I would ask you to read Dr Kessenger prophecy about Israel in 2022-2023.
hahaha…….another dumb arrogant ISISraeli…..you guys really are the dumbest on the planet…….shockingly dumb !! ……..
LOL, a comedian
Yeah, and the Moon belongs to US because we all saw on TV americans have walked there first and there is a flag marking it as american. But, even after so many years, minarets all over the world still keep their quarter moons symbols on the top, in order to pretend Trump friendship.
Of course big profets should have foresee this and give a warning, if important at all, but there was none. Same with Golan, too. It follows that God likes the situation as it is now, end of discussion.
One can not contradict Allah, orelse!
Absolute delusional rubbish. Syria has ZERO claim to the Golan. LOST IN WAR.
Agreed. If the Muslims want it back them come and try to get it. Then Israel will own Damascus as well.
Hopefully Syria and Russia and Iran will completely destroy ZIONIST EXTREMISM and its very dumb dumb followers !!
the 1967 war that ISISrael started……OOH WE ARE THE VICTIMS….hahahahah…….you are the dumbest , arrogant people on the planet…….NADA BETWEEN THE EARS !!
Israel gave the Palestinians Gaza for peace and we see how that worked out or not!
אתה טמבל ואוהב גמלים ורצח כמו מנהיג שלך אסאד שהורג נשים וילדים קטנים
really, it’s that simple!!! Genius like you deserves the Nobel “stupid” Prize. Israel just keep giving and they will get peace?! indeed!
keep giving ???? hahahahahahahahahahahahah……..ahhhhhhhhahahahaha……….THE GIVERS….ahhahahahaahahahahahahah………LMAO !!
worldcitizen, you are a fool if you think that trading land for peace will work, check the history of doing this, it never has worked and never will work.
Stupid liberals always keep trying the same things over and over hopeing to achieve a different result, the definition of insanity? yes.
Spot on ol’ Chap !!!! Repetitive actions bringing a certain result , will indeed bring the same result when initiated again. It’s like this , folks , Arabs attack Israel , Arabs lose land . Simple as that ,
“The problem is Golan belong to Syrian, so it easy thing, give Golan back to Syrian and make peace.”
Prior to 1967, the Golan was under Syrian control, yet there was no peace between Israel and Syria. In fact, Syria regularly attacked Israel from there at that time.
In reality, it’s not such an “easy thing” as stated by “worldcitizen”.
The spoils of war will never be considered as something “stolen”
Sure make peace with Assad’s Syria while Assad is hosting Hezbollah, Iran and many different Shiite militias that want to destroy Israel. This would be like removing a bullet proof vest before a firing squad.
Russia is a menace and a threat to Israel. Old Communists have morphed into new authoritarian opportunists who ally themselves to the most despicable regimes in the world because they want to dominate and regain the old Soviet “empire” which was just a pile of crap with nuclear bombs to make it appear like a world power.
To whom is not Russia a menace, I wonder. They have plenty of bombs, and are crazy hungry for power and wealth, the worst combination negative driving.
” Old Communists have morphed into new authoritarian opportunists who ally themselves to the most despicable regimes in the world because they want to dominate and regain the old Soviet “empire” ”
That’s starting to sound like exactly what contemporary Iran is doing right now———only substitute “old Persian empire” for “old Soviet empire” !
The Golan Heights are Syrian, and under International Law, Syria has every right to do what it needs to in order to retrieve its land. Israel has no say on anything here as they are the thieves and occupiers in this scenario.
soon the syrian golan side will be in Israel also
Hahaha what a joker
The Golan heights are not Syrian, but the Syrian lows are indeed! We should all blame Israel for pressing sice too long with the return of the Golan heights and peace. It’s been 50 years now, it is enough! It is clear absolutely Syria does not want it back, we have to leave with it.
Please edit by hand your map, with a higlighter make Golan in same color as Israel.
well come and get it, if you can LOL
In case this isn’t merely a payed troll,
Lets leave international law out of this shall we? Its irrelevant. International law would have the Syrian regime strung up by the neck for the war crimes its committed these last 6 years against its own population.
International law… what a joke. East vetoes west when they dont like their allies being held accountable, West vetoes East.
Troops on the ground and what you can hold. Nothing ever changes. If Syria wants the Golan, let it try and take it. If it wants it badly enough, let it prostitute itself wholey and give up sovereignty entirely to Iran and Russia, then its got a punchers chance of maybe getting it back. Short of that, nada.
@hatepropaganda is indeed a propaganda. Ironically, speaking about war crimes, ICC would start from Y.Shamir..Sharon..and the biggest would be Bibi. Bibi should stand in first line to be hang. Syrian will take Golan back with or without peace agreement. If just if, Olmert effort didn’t disrupted, maybe there is peace between Israel and Syria right now in positive terms for all, let say water sharing and join development.
@US Patriot: Did Egypt attack Israel again after Israel gave Sinai back to Egypt?
“—–Did Egypt attack Israel again after Israel gave Sinai back to Egypt?”
Did Hamas attack Israel (too many times to count) after Israel gave Gaza back to the Palestinians ????
@davefromorange. Did Israel following any agreement to leave Gaza? NO! the leave Gaza just like that, with imposing buffer zone 20-40 km crafted in Gaza Area, what should Hamas react to israel blockade(land, air and sea blockade and freedom of movement between Gaza to West Bank) still in place? sending flower to Tel Aviv? What Palestinian want is comprehensive agreement based upon mutual agreed/UN resolutions and internationally recognized peace accords.
“The Golan Heights are Syrian, and under International Law, Syria has every right to do what it needs to in order to retrieve its land. Israel has no say on anything here as they are the thieves and occupiers in this scenario.”
You may want to do a review of history and notice that in June 1967, Israel won the Golan Heights from Syria in the 6-day war while Israel was defending itself from the combined forces of Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Perhaps the “Arab League” should have left Israel alone in 1967.
That is your narrative, i don’t buy it, and many others outside Israel too. Once again all Israel wars was ‘war by design’, except Yom Kippur war.
The Golan Heights used to be Syrian…at best.
Just like Hatay was part of Syria but now is part of Turkey. Turkey now has more added territory from Syria around its borders including Idlib. Do you think that Turkey is going to give up this territory and freely hand it back to Assad? Turkey still considers Assad an evil destructive tyrant, but it is cooperating with Russia in Syria to protect its interests of supporting the Syrian opposition.
Hatay has been occupied much longer by Turkey and Syria has done nothing about it. Now Turkey occupies more areas around its border and Syria can do nothing about it. Do you think that Turkey which hates Assad is going to give him any Syrian land that it holds?
Hey bub…don’t start a fight that you can’t win and especially don’t complain when you lose land because of your really bad decision. Signed…We Didn’t Start It
IKR?!
These crybaby Arabs are hilarious!
So much for your “ummah” and prophet – I guess Allah doesn’t like you guys very much! lmao
who is protecting the clintons? they have committed hundreds of crimes including treason and not one indictment, who exactly is protecting them?
What does pleasuring camels have to do with an intelligent conversation? Or are you just drunk?
All Israel war was ‘war by design’, except 1973 war. a country without border, constitution was indeed have had intentions to expand. If not for internet ages, i would still believe zionist narratives (lie).
Eventually Russia will let Syria off the chain and Israeli aircraft will fall. It’s only the rather amusing SA5/S200 missiles from the 60s of last century that have been used so far.
The war Israel would like is long gone. As the Saudi/Israeli alliance has no place to attack it’s enemy outside of Lebanon, it will have to do. A lot of people understand this and I suspect Israel will not like the result.
THAT HAS TO BE THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE READ ON HERE
(Not stupid…fact.)
Eventually, MANPADS will be provided to the Syrian opposition in order to deal with the barrel bombs that are being dropped on them by Assad’s helicopters.
It is all UN fault, UN has to adjust to the problems created by Syria, and straighten the records on Golan.
First, all UN bulshitting right after the war of 67 shall stop, and UN must give a new resolution in annulation of all previous resolutions between 67 and 73, and indicating clear blame for Syria rejecting of the peace talks and for freezing the return of that half of Golan.
Second, all UN bulshitting right after the war of 73 shall stop, and UN must give a new resolution in annulation of all previous resolutions after 73 and indicating clear criticism for Israel for excessive pushing for discussions on the return of their half of Golan only for to confuse the Arab world.
Resolutions are not to be permanent anf forver, same as it is ok for one to shit his own bed at 3 months old but not ok later on after 20-30 years have passed.
In the end Syria escaped ok from all the problems has created, they have half of Golan, Israel has the other half, it is 50%. Of course, couple billions symbolic compensation for all the troubles created to Israel would help future cooperation.
All of Syria destroyed. Half million people murdered or dead. 2 million refugees. Except the Israeli side of the Golan that Israel captured after Syrian attack to annihilate Israel in 1967. The syrians that are on the Israeli side of the Golan are the luckiest Syrians on the planet. None dead. None displaced. So Israel should give back Golan? So assad can butcher the syrians there too? You smoke too much Crack ahab….. World idiot
The syrians that are on the Israeli side of the Golan are the luckiest Syrians on the planet. so they are Syrian and their land stolen by Israel and terrorists are supported by Israel, Saudi, Turkish, US…… and are treated in Israeli hospitals. Israel want Arabs weak so they can steal more of their properties!
Who created the war in Syria?
Yet Syria with a small army able to withstand the entire US/Nato/Saudi/Qatar/Israel with multi billion dollars of weaponry and still win, you expect Syria to be not destroyed?
Come on…
“—————Yet Syria with a small army able to withstand————–”
With “just a little” help from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah plus Shiite mercenaries from Iraq and Pakistan.
5 million refugees outside Syria (all sunni, will never be let back in).
Another 6 million refugees displaced internally, again, all Sunni, will never be allowed to return to their homes.
Shiite (Allawite, but its the same thing) Sunni divide has now been enshrined in Syria.
But otherwise, you’re right. Syria is no longer the entity it was. I suspect it never will be.
It’ll will remain a broken hell hole for the next 3 decades. Give or take.
In order to assure that the Alawite 10% of the Syria population could rule by force the 75% Sunni Syrian population, they had to get help from Shiite groups like Hezbollah from Lebanon and Shiite militias from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. As well, they had to get Russian help. What is interesting is that 90% of all Russian Muslims are Sunni while only 10% are Shiite. Sooner or later this will explode in Russia’s face due to their Middle East policy in Syria.
Russian Muslims are pretty mild — 70 years of communist atheism has taken the edge off of them. They drink. They don’t cover up. They don’t practice polygamy or child weddings or any of the rest of it. Most of them are just culturally Muslims and are not observant.
In any event, the resurgence in Orthodox Christianity in Russia has made them tolerant of Muslims which they view as fellow believers in something which is better than believers in nothing.
Russia has no problem with Muslims.
What you fail to understand about Sunnis and Shias is this — most people in all religions don’t actually believe most of it. How many Jews do you know that actually buy into the Adam and Eve story, the Flood, the Serpent, etc.? I’ll bet many of the Haredim don’t believe all of it. Which Pope was it that said “this myth of Jesus has enriched us tremendously”? Religion is mostly culture. It’s how weddings and funerals get done and the few words that are muttered in school in the morning. This is why in places like Iran and Syria and Kazakhstan and Turkey and Russia — absent foreign manipulation — people of different religions have gotten along like Jews and Italians in New York, or Chinese and Whites in SanFrancisco — they tolerant each other’s differences as cultural differences, and don’t enter into long-winded debates about things neither actually believes. It’s only when there’s land or money involved that they pick up a gun and jump on each other. Syrian Sunnis and Lebanese Christians are just as happy to have Shias die for them as Agnistic Brits are to have Gurkhas die for them and White Americans are to have Black soldiers die for them.None of it matters as much as you like to make out. The Shia/Sunni thing in Saudi is because the Shia minority happen live on top of the oil reserves. The Shia/Sunni argument between Iran and UAE is about three strategic islands in the Gulf. The Shia Sunni thing in Pakistan — There is none, because neither of them have anything. Even the Muslim/Jewish debate is not about Abraham and Mohamad. It’s about land.
All you have to do to see this is count how many of the comments here are about land — “give Golan back”, “We gave Gaza back and it didn’t help”, “We’ll grab Damascus”, “blah blah blah”. Except for the guy who carries on about pleasuring camels, it’s about land. It’s not about Heaven and Hell and God and Etc. It’s about L.A.N.D…. Not religion. Land.
The religious stuff — Eat this. Don’t eat that. Wash it three times. Use your left hand. Pray in that direction. Say three Hail Marie’s and put five dollars in the plate. And the rest of it, is culture — like Hummus and headscarves and so on. The issue is Land.
They were at odds in particular on the depth of the buffer zone to be carved out between Syria and Israel. It is not Israel, Golan is Syrian land occupied by Israel against all UN resolutions. It is occupied Syrian land and Israel needs to pack and go Debka file. Israel and Jews can not just steal other’s property and try to keep it by force. The Jews even now claiming for the properties taken during Hitler’s time and now are doing the same!
Quit your whining Taz, you made war and lost…live with the results…or don’t.
The patroit missiles cost us3 million each . 3 were fired and brought down a us 1000 survey drone which may have been bought from eBay…… and the Patriots won.
Great….. Looks like the Syrians can buy more
Looks like Israel and Saudi Arabia have recently used the patriot missiles to stop Iranian air attacks.
Trump is Putin’s puppet. Does anybody still consider the US relevant in the Middle East?
Not for another 2 years, it’ll take about that long for the US to straighten out its internal politics. Impeachment is a drawn out process, and can’t begin until Dems win the midterms. Then, another year on top of that. Look around 2020 for the US to try and re assert its waining influence. But, by then the damage will have been done. Russia has outmanoeuvred the west brilliantly over the last few years. Much as i despise what they do, and their zero sum game attitude to world politics. They are better at playing the game than we are.
Great reporting DEBKAfiles . Too bad I didn’t get into the game of verbal punch and counter punch in a timely manner . Some know Who Blesses Israel .Cheers !!!!!!