Thread by @RJBrodsky

#BREAKING: Reports in #Syria indicate #Israel struck the T4 airbase in Homs Province. It is a major logistical hub for #Iran moving men, material, weapons, and more into Syria.

Reports also indicate several air defense missiles were fired in response.

In the days ahead, watch for what weapons system was destroyed and the number of #Iran #IRGC members killed and their portfolios.

Also interesting will be its impact when Netanyahu meets with #Putin in Moscow in a few days (July 11) which is undoubtedly all about #Iran’s presence in #Syria.

The last time Netanyahu met Putin in #Russia was in May, and hours after that meeting #Israel launched a comprehensive assault against #Iran’s positions in #Syria. This strike, the May strike, and the previous Putin meeting indicate Russia is unwilling or unable to pressure Iran.

Netanyahu will likely provide the same red lines as before but with more specificity since Iran and its proxies are now camped out a few miles from #Israel’s borders.

5 days after Netanyahu meets with #Putin in Moscow, Trump will meet the #Russian president in #Helsinki (July 16). Trump will likely press Putin to guarantee #Iran’s withdrawal from #Syria, which #Israel already knows won’t happen.

It’s puzzling why Trump would try to secure a deal with #Russia that has already failed with #Israel, in which there is such a long track record of Russia lying and not upholding its end of any deal in #Syria.

For this reason and many others not suitable to Twitter constrains, Trump should adopt maximal positions on all things #Syria in order to have some leverage and something to trade when he meets with Putin.

Trump will not get a “grand bargain” from Putin regarding #Iran in #Syria for many reasons but it is downright impossible if he continues to broadcast his desire to withdraw and declare victory. Words matter; actions matter. They matter the most when they are in sync & congruent.

I should probably mention that #Israel has struck this exact T4 base in #Syria several times in the past and #Russia has had a varying response for each. Military assets (men and material) from #Iran were always the target.

#Israel’s alleged strike yesterday on the T4 base in #Syria reportedly destroyed another UAV command & control center, at least 3 SAM launchers (Khordad / Thor M1), and a number of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps #IRGC personnel were killed and wounded. #Iran