Russia Denies Reports of Successful ISIS Attack

The Kremlin was denying reports Tuesday that a strategic base it was using in Syria has come under attack and suffered heavy damage, including the destruction of several military helicopters and ground vehicles. The Islamic State (IS) terror militia is claiming credit for the attack. Also on Tuesday, US-supported factions in Syria launched an offensive against IS positions near their de facto capital of Raqqa, with plans reportedly being made for a drive to take the city in the near future.

The international effort to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel took yet another hit this week when the 31st US-Israel Joint Economic Development Group meeting was convened in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, officials from Israel and South Korea announced Tuesday that they are in preliminary negotiations to set up a free-trade agreement.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein led a debate in the Knesset Tuesday to make Arabic Language Day, noting that Arabic is one of Israel’s official languages and should be given more prominence in Israeli society. The various committees meeting to discuss the issue on Tuesday also passed several concrete measures towards this end.

The participation by Jordanian officials in an Israeli Independence Day reception held at the Jewish State’s Embassy in Amman last week have been harshly criticized. The National Committee against Normalization, an umbrella group including labor unions and others who oppose peaceful relations between Israel and Jordan, issued a statement saying, in part, “All the weak souls, who enable the enemy to vanquish them in their homeland, we denounce your cooperation with the Zionist enemy.”

The Islamic State’s choice of targets is a clear sign of its intention to inflame Sunni/Alawite tensions, raise the price of Moscow’s intervention, and assert its symbolic leadership over the rebellion.