Air assault begins ....

And it happened .... the US, UK and France bombarded the chemical weapons centers in Syria. I was awake at 3.30am planning my work for the day when just before 4am a news flash on BBC announced that the bombings had started and Trump came on the air to announce the attack. It sounds strange because though we were expecting it ... yet it was shocking to hear it announced. It was short of a declaration of war. The bombings are restricted and precise ... in order to limit the repercussions of a wider war ... but it all depends on iran and Russia now to see  how they will react. Iran yesterday had threatened to destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa if Syria were bombed. Well obviously Israel was informed by the US before the strikes so the Israeli army could be prepared for any retaliation from Syria. We're on high alert right now. It's very tense in the streets. Right now, we'll just have to wait this one out and see how Syria will react. 100 missiles were fired into Syria but Russia claims 71 were intercepted.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-us-strikes-on-syria-are-appropriate-issues-further-warnings/   and
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5229944,00.html

My birthday cake

Well despite the tension, I had to go up to the Holy Sepulcher for Mass. It was booked a month ago for the foreign community in Jaffa who came to pray in Jerusalem. After the Mass the group brought me to Notre Dame Center for breakfast. And they surprised me with a birthday cake ... homemade in the shape of a franciscan habit with cord and hood. Very very cute!!!! My birthday happens to fall also on the same day as Nadia's birthday. She's the daughter of Gloria. the head of the group and baker of the cake. Nadia is doing her military service now. Her mum and friends surprised her on her birthday by showing up in her camp in Beer Sheva in the middle of the desert. Gloria her mum had her birthday on the 8th. Since they all had celebrated their birthdays already, they decided to come to Jerusalem (they're all living in Tel Aviv) to celebrate it with me as I didn't have a celebration. It was so nice of them. And they gave me gifts of polo-shorts and shoes ... they must have noticed my broken sneakers.

Well right now we're just waiting for more news from Syria. Perhaps the sisters in Damascus will call me and tell me news. Let's hope no one gets killed there.