Syria responds to the Israeli airstrikes

'Israel's aggression opens door to all possibilities' - Syrian Information Minister

Syria's information minister says that those who infringe on Syria's sovereignty must "study their choices carefully." He said that Israel has "proved its link to terrorist groups." Israel has reportedly launched two airstrikes against Syria in two days.

RT,

5 May, 2013

Omran al-Zoabi added that it is Damascus' duty to "protect the state from any domestic or foreign attack through all available means."

The minister's comments came after an emergency cabinet meeting organized to respond to what a Western source called a new strike on Iranian missiles bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah, Reuters reported.

The Arab League has condemned the alleged strike on Syria and urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to "act immediately to end Israeli attacks on Syria," calling the alleged strikes a "dangerous violation of an Arab state's sovereignty."

This follows reports of condemnation from Egyptian, Lebanese and Iranian leaders.

Syria's Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the UN and the UN Security Council protesting "Israeli aggression" that killed and wounded several people and "caused widespread destruction." It also said the attacks aimed "to give direct military support to terrorist groups" fighting the government. It called the strikes a "flagrant violation of international law" that have made the Middle East "more dangerous.ouTube video/momo1984momo1

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the attack proved that there is an alliance between Israel and Islamists trying to topple the Syrian government. In an interview with CNN he said the airstrikes are a "declaration of war" by Israel and that Syria would retaliate in its own time and way.

Egypt has also condemned the attack, saying it complicated a crisis that Cairo was trying to help resolve. The Egyptian government said in a statement that the strike was a violation of international law and a threat to the regional security.

The Obama administration is fully supportive of Israeli airstrikes on Syria, US officials and diplomatic sources told NBC News.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced alarm over the reports, but said the UN was able to confirm whether the attacks took place.

"The Secretary-General expresses grave concern over reports of air strikes in Syria by the Israeli Air Force," Ban's press office said in a statement.

"At this time, the United Nations does not have details of the reported incidents," it said. "Nor is the United Nations in a position to independently verify what has occurred."

It added that Ban "calls on all sides to exercise maximum calm and restraint, and to act with a sense of responsibility to prevent an escalation of what is already a devastating and highly dangerous conflict."

'Israel is protecting its interests and will continue doing so'

Speaking for the first time since the alleged strike, Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon told Army Radio, "The State of Israel is protecting its interest and will continue doing so. I am not confirming or denying the reports...we have said on various occasions in the past that we will do everything anywhere in order to protect those interests."

Senior correspondent for Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Amir Oren, said that Israel is "only trying to prevent and preempt further conflagration."

"While there are many reasons in other aspects to be critical of Israeli policy, it does seem that this time around it's quite balanced," he told RT. Oren added that Israel is merely trying to prevent another Lebanon war.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague agrees, saying that Israel has a right to defend itself.

"All countries have to look after their own national security, of course, and are able to take actions to protect their own national security," Hague told Sky News.

Hague added that the recent escalation in the conflict and Israel's airstrikes showed that the conflict risked spreading to the wider Middle East. He stressed once more that it was time to consider lifting the arms embargo on Syria's opposition.

This is from the Canadian media which unfailingly maintains a craven pro-zionist stance.

Syria threatens to retaliate after Israeli airstrikes

Syria has promised to defend itself "by all available means" following Israeli airstrikes that targeted stockpiles of weapons believed to be on their way to militant groups.

CTV,

5 May, 2013

The two Israeli airstrikes in three days heightened tensions in the region, with Syria’s ally Iran and Egypt both condemning the attacks.

                                  

While Israeli officials have not confirmed or denied the airstrikes, Israel’s defense department appeared to be preparing for possible retaliation on Sunday. The military deployed two batteries of its Iron Dome rocket defence system in northern cities.

       

Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike in Syria early Sunday morning targeting a military research facility – the second attack in three days. The facility was reportedly storing Iranian-made missiles believed to be on their way to Hezbollah militants in neighbouring Lebanon.

An intelligence official confirmed to The Associated Press that Israel launched the attack and targeted Fateh-110 missiles, which have precision guidance systems.

An earlier attack on Friday, confirmed by U.S. officials, was also reportedly directed at a weapons warehouse.

Syria’s information minister called the weekend attacks a “flagrant violation of international law” and warned that the country has the right to defend itself “by all available means.”

Following Sunday's early-morning strike, Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister told CNN the attack is a “declaration of war.”

“When they attack, this is a declaration of war. This is not something that is (new)," Faisal al Mekdad said. "We dealt with this on several occasions, and we retaliated the way we wanted, and the retaliation was always painful to Israel, and they will suffer again."

           

In a letter sent to the United Nations and the UN Security Council, Syria’s foreign minister said the attack killed and wounded several people and caused widespread destruction.

An amateur video said to be shot early Sunday in the Damascus area showed an enormous ball of fire lighting up the night sky. The video could not be independently confirmed but its contents match reports of the incident in the same area, about 15 kilometres from the Lebanon border.

Damascus-based activist Susan Ahmed said the explosions occurred around 2 a.m. local time, and sent mounds of smoke into the sky.

“Columns of smoke could be seen like mountains,” Ahmed told CTV News Channel on Sunday.

“Here in Damascus, people are really afraid today,” she said. “They’re pretty careful when they’re leaving home.”

Canada, Middle East react to airstrikes

The airstrikes come as Washington considers how to respond to reports that the Syrian regime may have used chemical weapons against its own people.

U.S. President Barack Obama has described the use of such weapons as a "red line," and last week said administration is weighing its options -- including possible military action.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Sunday the government has “solid evidence” that some chemical weapons were used in Syria, citing intelligence from U.S. and Israeli allies.

“We don’t have specific evidence as to who used them, though we strongly suspect it was the regime,” Baird told CTV’s Question Period.

He added: “We’ll get the facts first before we rush to any conclusions and decision as to how to respond.”

However, Baird maintained that the government remains opposed to arming the rebels – something the U.S. recently confirmed it is considering.

“We are increasingly alarmed by the amount of radical jihadist who are making it into Syria and infesting part of the opposition,” Baird said. “This causes us great concern.”

In the Middle East, both Egypt and Iran condemned the weekend attacks.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi called the airstrikes a violation of international law while Iran’s Foreign Minister Ramin Mehmanparast, urged other countries to remain united against Israel.

University of Quebec sociology professor Rachad Antonius said despite Syria’s promises, it is unlikely the country will retaliate.

“The difference in power between Syria and Israel, whether there is or there isn’t a war, is huge,” Antonius told CTV News Channel. “Syria is not in a position to counter attack.”

Israel has said it wants to stay out of the two-year-long Syrian civil war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated the Jewish state would be prepared to take military action to prevent sophisticated weapons from flowing from Syria to Hezbollah or other extremist groups.

However, Antonius said the airstrikes could be considered an “unprovoked attack.”

“The government of Syria has not attacked, in any way, Israel recently. And Hezbollah did not attack Israel recently either,” he said. “Had it been the other way around…all the countries in the West would consider this an act of war.”