Thousands of Israelis jostle for gas masks

Ankara: Officials say Turkey is on alert against possible chemical attacks from Syria and has stocked food and gas masks along their shared border. The Turkish government’s crisis management centre said on Twitter Thursday that officials had designated bunkers at seven areas along the border to protect people in the area from harm. It also said a team of 100 chemical weapons experts were sent to the border area which was being screened for any signs of chemical attacks. The country said it would take part in any international coalition against the Syrian government.

Strikes on Syria will leave Israel in flames: Iran army chief

Dubai: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief said a US military attack on Syria would lead to the “imminent destruction” of Israel and would prove a “second Vietnam” for America. Mohammad Ali Jafari,commander IRGC,said in an interview late Wednesday with Tasnim news agency that a US strike on Syria would not help Israel. “An attack on Syria will mean the imminent destruction of Israel,” he said,adding,“Syria will turn into a more dangerous and deadly battlefield than the Vietnam War,and in fact,Syria will become the second Vietnam for the United States.”

Britain sends six Typhoon jets to Cyprus base…

London: Britain has dispatched six RAF Typhoon jets to its base in Cyprus as part of a “contingency” plan to ensure the protection of interests amid heightened tensions over Syria,the Ministry of Defence said Thursday. The MoD said the jets are being dispatched to Akrotiri in Cyprus as a “prudent and precautionary measure”,adding they are not being deployed to take part in a military strike against Syria. The Typhoons have been sent out in a defensive counter air (DCA) role,the RAF said,and are fitted with advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM),advanced short range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAM),and a Mauser cannon for close combat.

… while Russia sends warships to the Mediterranean

Moscow: Russia is sending two warships to the eastern Mediterranean,Interfax news agency said Thursday. Interfax quoted a source in the armed forces’ general staff as saying a missile cruiser and an anti-submarine ship would arrive in the forthcoming days due to the “well-known situation” — a clear reference to Syria. The navy later denied the deployment was linked to events in Syria and said it was part of a long-planned rotation of ships in the Mediterranean. It did not say what kind of vessels,or how many,were on their way to the region. The initial Interfax report had made clear that the aim was to beef up the navy’s presence and not to replace the ships in the Mediterranean.