Syria has made a threat of war with Israel, demanding that the Golan Heights be handed over by August or September.

An unnamed Syrian official told the New York Sun, “Syria passed repeated messages to the U.S. that we demand the return of the Golan either through negotiations or through war. If the Golan is not in our hands by August or September, we will be poised to launch resistance, including raids and attacks against Jewish positions (in the Golan Heights).”

On Monday, the Syrian government also urged Syrians to leave Lebanon “ahead of an expected military ‘eruption’ expected to take place next week.” Syria’s expected “eruption” comes just before the United Nations Security Council is expected to meet on the deployment of UN-flagged forces on the Syria-Lebanon border.

Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf, survived another assassination attempt as his plane was fired on with an anti-aircraft gun and a machine gun placed rooftop near Islamabad Friday. The attack indicated a minute-by-minute knowledge of Musharraf’s travel plans by his enemies - at least for that day. Musharraf has survived several assassination attempts since 2002.

While many believe a ‘militant Pakistan remains unlikely,’ often citing internal political polls, there remain two powers within Pakistan - it’s military and the Taliban-al-Qaeda alliance. A Taliban-al-Qaeda Islamist assassination of Musharraf would not be executed without formidable further plans to seize power.

Meanwhile, the Lal Masjid standoff in Islamabad continues, with armed Islamists still holed up inside the Red Mosque.