FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: Apr 16, 2018
Source: The Daily Star
Syria strikes are "important signal" to Iran and Hezbollah -Israeli minister
Reuters
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: U.S.-led strikes in Syria are an "important signal" to Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a senior Israeli cabinet minister said Saturday.

"The use of chemical weapons crosses a red line that humanity can no longer tolerate," Yoav Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, said on Twitter.

U.S., British and French forces hit Syria with air strikes overnight in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was prepared to sustain the response until Assad’s government stopped its use of chemical weapons.

"The American attack is an important signal to the axis of evil - Iran, Syria and Hezbollah," Gallant said.

An Israeli official said Israel was notified of the strikes ahead of time. Asked how much advanced warning Israel had received, the official told Reuters: "Between 12 and 24 hours, I believe."

Asked whether Israel helped choose targets, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "Not to my knowledge."

A U.S. embassy spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Israel was notified before the strikes, but she provided no further details.

Iran’s involvement in Syria in support of President Bashar Assad has alarmed Israel, which has said it would counter any threat. Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has an extensive missile arsenal, last fought a war with Israel in 2006.

Syria, Iran and Russia say Israel was behind an air strike on a Syrian air base on Monday that killed seven Iranian military personnel, something Israel has neither confirmed nor denied.

On Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to do nothing to destabilize Syria, according to a Kremlin statement.

Israel has mounted air strikes in Syria on a regular basis, targeting suspected weapons shipments to Hezbollah.


 
Readers Comments (0)
Add your comment

Enter the security code below*

 Can't read this? Try Another.
 
Related News
Syrian army says Israel attacks areas around southern Damascus
Biden says US airstrikes in Syria told Iran: 'Be careful'
Israel and Syria swap prisoners in Russia-mediated deal
Israeli strikes in Syria kill 8 pro-Iran fighters
US to provide additional $720 million for Syria crisis response
Related Articles
Assad losing battle for food security
Seeking justice for Assad’s victims
Betrayal of Kurds sickens U.S. soldiers
Trump on Syria: Knowledge-free foreign policy
Betrayal of Kurds sickens U.S. soldiers
Copyright 2024 . All rights reserved