http://www.debka.com/article/22720/Egypt-Syria-are-falling-apart-­-an-Israeli-nightmare-unfolds

Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel warned Tuesday, Jan. 29, that Syria is falling apart and no one knows what the next day may bring: ³War may not break out tomorrow,² he said, ³but we stand ready for any eventuality.²

If war is not expected tomorrow, why have Israel¹s armed forces, including the air force, been on their highest level of preparedness since Friday, Jan. 25? The Syrian crisis may not technically fit the description of a state of war. However, the violent turbulence in that country may at any time spill over the border into hostilities in some shape or form.

The ³no comment² stance on the Syrian civil war, long held by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak is untenable and pointless, especially after the latter cut short an overseas family trip to be flown home in a hurry Saturday.

No one believes the official explanation that the three Iron Dome anti-missile batteries stationed over the weekend in northern Israel - in the sight of many thousands of local dwellers - are there for a preplanned routine test - least of all after a senior Israeli officer told AFP that large Hizballah forces are parked at Bashar Assad¹s chemical weapons stores poised ready to seize them.

If this happens, said the officer, ³A decision to attack Syria or Lebanon will need to be implemented immediately.²