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