BICOM

Israel’s Air Force chief Amir Eshel and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz both warned yesterday of the chances that Israel could suddenly find itself at war.

Eshel was speaking at a security conference in Herzliya and commented “If tomorrow Syria collapses, and I am not saying that will happen, we could find ourselves in the thick of it very fast and in great number.” He cited the danger of Syria’s weapons, including its chemical stockpile falling into dangerous hands, saying that it could mean “having to act very fast and in great quantity.” Eshel added, “These days a number of scenarios can lead to a surprise war.”

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz appeared to echo Eshel’s words yesterday during an address to graduates of the IDF Command and Staff College. Gantz said that the IDF is preparing for the “tangible scenario of a confrontation on multiple fronts,” adding that Israel’s military is at “a significant point on the axis of time, in light of the developing security threats and instability around us.” He declared that “We must work in a joined manner, coordinated, and with maximum efficiency to ensure our ability to win quickly in every confrontation, and to win every future war.”

Earlier this week, Gantz had warned that Syrian President Assad will “bear the consequences” if Syria inflames the situation on the Golan Heights border with Israel after the Syrian military admitted firing on Israeli troops. Speaking at a Friends of Syria conference in Jordan yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also warned Assad that failure to negotiate with the Syrian opposition would compel the United States to consider “growing support for the opposition, in order to permit them to continue to be able to fight for the freedom of their country.”