Save My Life: Scramble for gas masks as Israel prepare Syria Attack

Rising alarm over the potential for the Syrian crisis to spill over into Israel has fuelled a mass scramble for gas masks, with thefts and fistfights breaking out in some of the long queues at distribution centres across the country.

Despite efforts by political and military leaders to reassure the public that the chances of retaliation by the Damascus regime against Israel are slight, thousands of people among the 40% of the population still lacking protection kits have flocked to depots over the past few days. A telephone helpline collapsed under the weight of inquiries.

One distribution depot in Jerusalem was forced to close after its gas masks were stolen by agitated members of the public. The postal authority, which manages distribution, said in a statement: "People attacked the workers and brutally grabbed gas mask kits."

Fights broke out elsewhere as people waited in line for up to five hours. Gas masks were being offered on eBay for up to $50 (£32) each.

Eight hundred schools and 2,800 kindergartens have been ordered to conduct emergency drills by Monday, according to Israeli media reports, and city councils in the Golan Heights and northern Israel are holding defence planning meetings. Tel Aviv city council was considering using underground car parks as mass shelters, saying the majority of existing public shelters were inadequate. - Guardian

JERUSALEM (AP) Israel and the U.S. conducted a joint missile test over the Mediterranean on Tuesday, in a display of military prowess as the Obama administration seeks congressional support for strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Any U.S. strikes, in retaliation for alleged chemical weapons use by the Assad regime, are not expected before next week when Congress returns from summer recess.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said the test of its Arrow 3 missile-defense system was performed together with the U.S. Defense Department.

The system successfully detected and tracked a medium-range decoy missile that was not carrying a warhead, the ministry said, but did not intercept it.

"A successful test was held to check our systems," Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said. "We will continue to develop and research and equip the Israeli military with the best systems in the world."

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman George Little said the U.S. provided technical assistance and support in the exercise. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11119052