| Israeli warplanes attacked a Syrian target on 6 | | | | agreement the communist regime made with the |
| September 2007. The secrecy and lack of | | | | U.S. and other nations pushing it to dismantle its |
| comment has perplexed international | | | | nuclear program. Under a February agreement, |
| commentators. The target was at Dayr az-Zawr, | | | | the U.S. and other participants in the six-party |
| in north east Syria. Syria was first to report the | | | | negotiations with Pyongyang agreed to provide |
| incident, and said their air defences fired at an | | | | North Korea with 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil, |
| Israeli warplane that had penetrated Syrian | | | | or the monetary equivalent in other aid and |
| airspace and dropped explosives. The plane/s then | | | | assistance. In return, North Korea agreed to shut |
| left Syrian airspace, travelling towards the | | | | down its main nuclear reactor, which it did in July, |
| Mediterranean via Turkey. Turkey subsequently | | | | and then declare and ultimately dismantle all its |
| announced that two Israeli fuel tanks had been | | | | nuclear programs. The desire of the USA to build |
| dropped inside Turkish territory, one near | | | | on the fragile agreement with North Korea is the |
| Gaziantep and the other near Antakya. It was | | | | reason why the attack has been shrouded in |
| inferred that the aircraft came under fire and | | | | secrecy. George Bush has refrained from |
| dumped empty fuel tanks to increase speed. | | | | celebrating a success against the 'axis of evil' and |
| There were no early press releases from either | | | | Israel is quietly satisfied with the success of the |
| Israel or the USA. It now appears that the Israeli | | | | mission and the message it sends to both Syria |
| attack on Dayr az Zawr, north Syria, was linked | | | | and Iran. The fact that the Israeli jets flew over |
| to the import of nuclear materials from North | | | | Turkey has aroused interest. Taken together with |
| Korea. The attack was apparently coordinated | | | | our information that the US base at Incirlik |
| with a land incursion into Syria by an Israeli | | | | assisted in route planning, Turkey would appear to |
| Sayeret Matkal unit, based on a covert SAS style | | | | have known in advance about the raid. At the |
| operation. It is understood that the Israeli troops | | | | official level, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan |
| were disguised in Syrian uniforms. The ground | | | | called the incident "unacceptable." He warned |
| troops assisted the warplanes to locate the | | | | against acts that cause tensions, saying they |
| target. The nature of the targeted materials | | | | could harm peace and stability in the region. He |
| remains unclear, although it is generally thought | | | | spoke during a news conference in Ankara on 10 |
| that Syria has been importing nuclear materials | | | | September 2007 with his Syrian counterpart, |
| from North Korea for some time. These materials | | | | Walid al-Moallem. However, it is well known that |
| could either by used by Syria for her own | | | | Turkey and Israel have a longstanding record of |
| purposes, or shipped on to Iran, or Hezbollah in | | | | co-operations in military and security matters. |
| the Lebanon. It appears that several warplanes | | | | Relations between Turkey and Israel are most |
| were involved, and their route was closely | | | | often described as "strategic." The two countries |
| monitored by the US airbase in Incirlik, south east | | | | have for years maintained open and secret |
| Turkey. The F-151s entered Turkish airspace | | | | relations, fostering a deep understanding of the |
| from the Mediterranean north of Antakya and | | | | need to preserve this unique link, despite changes |
| crossed into Syria near Ceylanpinar. The jets | | | | in the Turkish political scene and the strengthening |
| travelled west of Al Hasakah and onwards to the | | | | of the Islamic lobby in Turkey. One of the |
| target at Dayr az-Zawr. After hitting the targets, | | | | foundations of Turkish-Israeli relations is close |
| they returned by the same route. The silence and | | | | cooperation of the armies and security services |
| secrecy from all sides is due to the current | | | | of the two countries. When tensions rose during |
| sensitivity concerning US and North Korean | | | | the intifada of 2000 and the Second Lebanon War |
| relations. During the summer of 2007, North | | | | of July 2006, security relations with Turkey |
| Korea publicly shifted its position on its nuclear | | | | remained stable. The fact remains that tension |
| program. They agreed to effectively abandon it | | | | between Turkey and Syria has been increased by |
| and allow inspections of facilities. They also made | | | | this incident. The confirmation of Abdullah Gul as |
| a commitment to non proliferation, without | | | | President of Turkey in early September will be a |
| admitting that shipments and assistance had | | | | welcome sign to the Muslim world that the |
| already been provided to a number of third | | | | Turkish government is unlikely to move away |
| parties, including Syria and Iran. The United States | | | | from its populist religious roots in its efforts to |
| announced on 28 September that it would spend | | | | join the EU. |
| up to $25 million to pay for 50,000 tons of heavy | | | | Leslie Hardy is a writer on North Cyprus Property |
| fuel oil for North Korea. This is part of an | | | | . |