The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Israel strikes arms depot near airport in Damascus
‘AIRPORT USED BY IRAN TO RESUPPLY HEZBOLLAH’
ISRAELI WARPLANES struck a weapons supply hub allegedly operated by Lebanese group Hezbollah near Damascus airport on Thursday, targeting arms sent from Iran in commercial and military cargo aircraft, Syrian rebel and regional intelligence sources said.
The Israeli military said later that one of its Patriot anti-aircraft missile batteries intercepted a target over the Golan Heights that Israeli media described as an unmanned drone.
Video carried on Arab TV showed the pre-dawn airstrikes caused a fire around the airport east of the Syrian capital, suggesting fuel sources or weapons containing explosives were hit.
Syrian state media said Israeli missiles hit a military position southwest of the airport, but did not mention arms or fuel. It said “Israeliaggression”hadcausedexplosionsandsomemateriallosses, butdidnotexpandonthedamage.
In a sign of the heightened tensions surrounding a conflict that has already caught up regional and international powers, Damascus’ ally Russia criticised the Israeli strike and said Syrian sovereignty should be respected.
Israel does not usually comment on action it takes in Syria. But Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, speaking to Army Radio from the US, appeared to confirm involvement. “The incident in Syria corresponds completely with Israel’s policy to act to prevent Iran’s smuggling of advanced weapons via Syria to Hezbollah,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “said that whenever we receive intelligence that indicates an intention to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah, we will act”, he added.
Two senior rebel sources in the Damascus area, citing monitors in the eastern outskirts of the capital, said there were five strikes on an ammunition depot used by Iran-backed militias.
Lebanon’s al-manar television, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, said early indications were that the strikes targeted warehouses and fuel tanks. It said there no casualties.
Russia, Iran back Assad
President Bashar al-assad is backed in Syria’s six-year-old civil war by Russia, Iran and regional Shia militias. These include Hezbollah, a close ally of Tehran and enemy of Israel, which describes the group as the biggest threat it faces on its borders.
In comments in an interview, Assad said Israel was supporting terrorists with military strikes in Syria, but he made no direct mention of Thursday’s attack.
Speaking in Moscow on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated that Israel “will not allow Iranian and Hezbollah forces to be amassed on the border”.
Lieberman held talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as part of efforts by Israel to coordinate with Moscow on actions in Syria and avoid the risk of confrontation.
REUTERS