The news that Israel carried out two rounds of airstrikes on Syria was delivered mostly via anonymous officials, making it very difficult to assess exactly what was struck. But much of the coverage pretended to know much more than could have really been known.
The first reporting seems to have come from CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr (5/3/13), who told viewers:
Two U.S. officials confirming to me that U.S. and Western intelligence agencies are tonight reviewing classified data showing indications that they believe Israel did conduct an air strike into Syria.
Those kinds of sketchy claims, mostly coming from unnamed U.S. officials, only continued. In the New York Times (5/5/13), readers learned:
The airstrike that Israeli warplanes carried out in Syria overnight on Thursday was directed at a shipment of advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Iran that Israel believed was intended for Hezbollah, American officials said Saturday.
And officials were saying more:
The missiles that were the target of the Israeli raid had been shipped from Iran and were being stored in a warehouse at Damascus International Airport when they were struck, according to an American official.
And more:
An American official, who asked not to be identified because he was discussing intelligence reports, said the targeted shipment consisted of Iranian-made Fateh-110s–a mobile, accurate, solid-fueled missile that has the range to strike Tel Aviv and much of Israel from southern Lebanon.
It wasn’t just the Times getting the scoop from unnamed sources. That was true for the Associated Press (5/6/13) as well:
The Israeli government and military refused to comment.
However, a senior Israeli official said both airstrikes targeted shipments of Fateh-110 missiles bound for Hezbollah. The Iranian-made guided missiles can fly deep into Israel and deliver powerful half-ton bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was discussing a covert military operation.
And in the Washington Post (5/6/13), anonymity was granted to a somewhat elaborately described source, who claims greater U.S. involvement is coming:
Now, in part because of growing confidence in the rebel Free Syrian Army, “the national security team and the diplomatic team around the president” favor increased involvement, and their views are gaining momentum despite the caution expressed by Obama’s political advisers, according to a senior Western official whose government has closely coordinated its Syria policy with Washington and who spoke before the reported Israeli strikes. The official discussed sensitive diplomatic assessments on the condition of anonymity.
One of the problems with allowing sources to define a story in this way is that the caveats and qualifiers can be lost along the way. On ABC‘s This Week (5/5/13), Alex Marquardt reported it this way:
Israel has long warned that they will not allow advanced weaponry, specifically chemical weapons, from ending up in the hands of its enemies, and that’s what appears to be happening here.
These airstrikes bring to mind the previous round of Israeli airstrikes inside Syria in January of this year (FAIR Blog, 2/4/13). Then, like now, the story from anonymous officials was that Israel struck a convoy of weapons heading to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Those sources were telling U.S. reporters what had happened, and some of those reporters were reporting these anonymous claims as “confirmation” of the story.
All of this could be true, of course. Or perhaps none of it is. What is certain is that the assessments of the airstrikes are being shared anonymously by governments involved in carrying them out, a scenario that cries out for more skepticism.




Prepare for a barrage of posts from stalwart defenders of Israel, which can never do wrong, and whose missiles always and only kill the Really Bad Guys and destroy their Bad Stuff. We know because government officials told us so.
Does anyone pay any attention to what Syria says about the attacks?
Also, is there any info on whether the Israeli warplanes flew into Syrian airspace or just Lebanon’s (which they frequently violate).
“The Israeli government and military refused to comment.
“However, a senior Israeli official said both airstrikes … ”
AP is so caught up in bafflegab it seems not to realize how oxymoronic this nonsense is. Israel must be delighted that American media, as well as the U.S. government, conducts deep hasbara for it — free of charge.
And do I detect the usually unrecognized efforts of a toady northern neighbor in this? “… a senior Western official whose government has closely coordinated its Syria policy with Washington … ”
Or is it just the usual British poodle rationalizing “Western”-supported war crimes?
I think the head of the IDF simply learned from FAIR and her followers.Hit ,then say nothing.It has worked for the terrorists worldwide.They hit then let the numb nuts in the western press come to their defense.To explain why they did what they did.And sometimes to explain away what they did.But I hate to tell you this oh Israel but you are jews.Fair and her ilk will not come to your defense in any case.And I do mean any case.Right on up to a nuke detonating in your midst.It will only be seen as your own fault.Your just desserts.As for me…..Id wager you did take out those missiles in a thoroughly competent military operation, based on the laws of self defense.My hope is that in the future as these weapons are brought to bear against you ,that you will have good hunting.
The usual rationale that Israel’s pre-emptive strikes are really defense, often based on secret intelligence, is no longer credible. Israel’s brutal attacks on Lebanon, then Gaza, have changed world opinion. Israel has the fourth largest military in the world, and has the backing of the United States. Who is there to challenge it?
The USA is immune from International Law, so are its satellites like Israel. When you have that you don’t have to say anything.
With lack of independent information we have no idea what really happened, what sites were struck and if the intel Israel had was even correct. I would expect Syria if they say anything at all it won’t be the truth and why should they? For the same reasons that any country Israel, Syria or the USA would tell the truth about any military action.
One thing we do know is that Israel is the power in that area. A looming colossus of nuclear might which frightens all those around them since Israel is frightened itself of any nuclear parity.
Maybe some time in the future we will find out what really happened, maybe not. Just know that should Israel decide to strike Iran it would be World War III. Then you will see a very exciting time.
Hey you cretens…Ya know who is really immune from international law and condemnation?And you just proved it yourselves.THE TERRORISTS who are stock piling this stuff!Not a word do any of you say against them.For years people like myself were pointing out the constant influx of weapons to them.You people said that was a lie.So when thousands rained down on Israel I expected to hear you all acknowledging you were wrong.All we heard was..”good for them…hit em again”Now you start again trying to tell Israel how to defend herself.Your bias is well understood ladies and gents.Your hopes for Israel has been logged and noted.Now that you have been heard from- can you please just shut up.You have been compromised to the point of idiocy.
As a “creten” (sic) I do not ignore the “terrorists” since that is taken care of. However it is all the other people the USA kills that is mostly ignored especially by you Michael-e. Not a mention of it. Why is that? Do you subscribe to the fiction that the USA right or wrong is right? Are you bothered by the CIA becoming an secret military arm of the President? Whatever is tested over seas comes back here to be used. That includes armed drones and LRK on anyone who is chosen to be looking like they are doing some wrong. Nothing specific mind you just and idea is enough to get you murdered. The new normal.
Night gaunt Of course I agree that innocents die in military moves this country undertakes.And one innocent is far too many.I do not believe that this country ,or this president ,sets out to attack innocents though.I do believe the terrorists have that as their goal.
As far as the CIA being a private arm of the president ,I would suppose that has always been so.Of course they do have oversight by the intel committee .And they are our elected officials.Are they(CIA) being used in ways beyond the presidents power as given to him by the constitution?That I do not know.Is this president aware of the CIAs actions?Again I do not know.I do know the CIA is beyond value to our national safety.What does scare me?The buying up of ammo(2 billion rounds-more than our military expended in 27 years of “wars”),and 3000 armed vehicles by DHS has me sweating.This IS a private army without adequate oversight of elected officials.And Obama answers as to why- amount to a f%ck you.How about his OTHER private army.The IRS.The people who will enforce Obama care.How we all feeling about them now?We in the Tea party have been yelling for years about our “special” treatment at their hands.No need to apologized and admit we were right.
“The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was discussing a covert military operation.”
Huh? How can it be covert if it already happened and everyone now knows about it?