Israel responded with an air strike on the facility in Syria that commanded the drone, but the mission cost Israel an F-16 fighter jet. In recent years Israel has carried out at least 100 attacks against Iranian positions inside Syria, yet has barely dented its ambitions. If anything, all-out war between Israel and Syria would overshadow the very Russian intervention that gave Assad a new lease on life. Antagonising Iran further could result in Tehran unleashing Hezbollah in Lebanon, possibly sparking all-out war with Israel. Is Trump willing to use his personal rapport with Putin to convince him that Iran and Syria must be restrained?

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 20, 2018 17:15 UTC