Syrian report: Israel bombs outskirts of Damascus for second time in recent days
Video: Israeli officials report their target was a shipment of advanced long-range missiles headed to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. They are both a major supporter of the Assad regime in Syria and an outspoken enemy of Israel.
By Liz Sly and Suzan Haidamous, Updated: Sunday, May 5, 7:00 AM
BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes bombed the outskirts of Damascus early Sunday for the second time in recent days, according to Syrian state media and reports from activists, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries that had already been exacerbated by the conflict raging in Syria.
Though there was no official confirmation that Israel had carried out the attack, the Israeli military later announced that it had deployed two of its Iron Dome rocket defense batteries near its northern border, in response to what it called “ongoing situational assessments.”
Video
State TV showed Syrian President Bashar Assad visiting a Damascus campus, his second public appearance in a week. The broadcast said Assad unveiled a statue to "martyrs" from Syrian universities who have died in the two-year-old civil war.
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Videos posted on the Internet by activists showed a huge fireball erupting on Mount Qassioun, a landmark hill overlooking the capital on which the Syrian government has deployed much of the firepower it is using against rebel-controlled areas surrounding the city.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency said that a scientific research facility had been struck by an Israeli missile, and a banner displayed on state television said the attack was intended to relieve pressure on rebel forces in the embattled eastern suburbs. The banner was accompanied by martial music and footage of Syrian soldiers marching, descending from helicopters and firing rockets, indicating that Syria may not shrug off the assault, as it has with some Israeli strikes in the past.
Reuters reported that an Israeli military spokeswoman had refused to comment, but the Associated Press quoted an anonymous Middle East intelligence official as confirming the state media reports. The target was Fateh-110 missiles, which have precision guidance systems with better aim than anything Hezbollah is known to have in its arsenal, the official said.
A subsequent video posted on the Internet by activists showed further multiple explosions lighting up the skies over Damascus, suggesting that some form of arms storage facility may have been hit.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Israel had intervened on behalf of the rebels.
“The Israeli attack on military sites in Syria is proof that there is communication between Israel and the terrorist groups who take their orders from al-Qaeda,” the ministry said in a statement published on Syrian state television.
The network said the Syrian Cabinet would convene an emergency meeting to discuss the attack.
The attack Sunday came hours after U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials said Israeli warplanes on Friday had struck a shipment of missiles destined for Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement at Damascus International Airport.
The attacks coincided with mounting pressure on the Obama administration to formulate a response to the growing risk of weapons proliferation in the Syrian war, notably the possibility that chemical weapons are being used in the conflict and could fall into the hands of extremists.
It also came amid renewed reports of sectarian violence in the northern coastal region of Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad where his supporters allegedly killed at least 50 and perhaps as many as 100 Sunni Muslim villagers in recent days, drawing a sharp condemnation Saturday from the State Department.
Syrian report: Israel bombs outskirts of Damascus for second time in recent days - The Washington Post < click
Israeli attacks are a 'declaration of war' says Syrian deputy foreign minister
With the second strike in three days, Israeli involvement in bloody civil war deepens
Syria's deputy foreign minister has branded Israeli airstrikes on military targets near Damascus a 'declaration of war' as the crisis in the conflict ravaged country threatened to escalate.
Speaking to CNN, Faisal al Mekdad said Syria would retaliate against Israel "in its own time and way."
The Syrian foreign ministry also claimed the attacks, which have not been confirmed by Israel, showed co-ordination with "terrorists" including al-Nusra militants.
Syria's information minister also said the 'Israeli aggression opens the door to all possibilities'.
JAMES LEGGE SUNDAY 05 MAY 2013
Israeli attacks are a 'declaration of war' says Syrian deputy foreign minister - Middle East - World - The Independent < click
Video: Israeli officials report their target was a shipment of advanced long-range missiles headed to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. They are both a major supporter of the Assad regime in Syria and an outspoken enemy of Israel.
By Liz Sly and Suzan Haidamous, Updated: Sunday, May 5, 7:00 AM
BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes bombed the outskirts of Damascus early Sunday for the second time in recent days, according to Syrian state media and reports from activists, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries that had already been exacerbated by the conflict raging in Syria.
Though there was no official confirmation that Israel had carried out the attack, the Israeli military later announced that it had deployed two of its Iron Dome rocket defense batteries near its northern border, in response to what it called “ongoing situational assessments.”
Video
State TV showed Syrian President Bashar Assad visiting a Damascus campus, his second public appearance in a week. The broadcast said Assad unveiled a statue to "martyrs" from Syrian universities who have died in the two-year-old civil war.
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Videos posted on the Internet by activists showed a huge fireball erupting on Mount Qassioun, a landmark hill overlooking the capital on which the Syrian government has deployed much of the firepower it is using against rebel-controlled areas surrounding the city.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency said that a scientific research facility had been struck by an Israeli missile, and a banner displayed on state television said the attack was intended to relieve pressure on rebel forces in the embattled eastern suburbs. The banner was accompanied by martial music and footage of Syrian soldiers marching, descending from helicopters and firing rockets, indicating that Syria may not shrug off the assault, as it has with some Israeli strikes in the past.
Reuters reported that an Israeli military spokeswoman had refused to comment, but the Associated Press quoted an anonymous Middle East intelligence official as confirming the state media reports. The target was Fateh-110 missiles, which have precision guidance systems with better aim than anything Hezbollah is known to have in its arsenal, the official said.
A subsequent video posted on the Internet by activists showed further multiple explosions lighting up the skies over Damascus, suggesting that some form of arms storage facility may have been hit.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Israel had intervened on behalf of the rebels.
“The Israeli attack on military sites in Syria is proof that there is communication between Israel and the terrorist groups who take their orders from al-Qaeda,” the ministry said in a statement published on Syrian state television.
The network said the Syrian Cabinet would convene an emergency meeting to discuss the attack.
The attack Sunday came hours after U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials said Israeli warplanes on Friday had struck a shipment of missiles destined for Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement at Damascus International Airport.
The attacks coincided with mounting pressure on the Obama administration to formulate a response to the growing risk of weapons proliferation in the Syrian war, notably the possibility that chemical weapons are being used in the conflict and could fall into the hands of extremists.
It also came amid renewed reports of sectarian violence in the northern coastal region of Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad where his supporters allegedly killed at least 50 and perhaps as many as 100 Sunni Muslim villagers in recent days, drawing a sharp condemnation Saturday from the State Department.
Syrian report: Israel bombs outskirts of Damascus for second time in recent days - The Washington Post < click
Israeli attacks are a 'declaration of war' says Syrian deputy foreign minister
With the second strike in three days, Israeli involvement in bloody civil war deepens
Syria's deputy foreign minister has branded Israeli airstrikes on military targets near Damascus a 'declaration of war' as the crisis in the conflict ravaged country threatened to escalate.
Speaking to CNN, Faisal al Mekdad said Syria would retaliate against Israel "in its own time and way."
The Syrian foreign ministry also claimed the attacks, which have not been confirmed by Israel, showed co-ordination with "terrorists" including al-Nusra militants.
Syria's information minister also said the 'Israeli aggression opens the door to all possibilities'.
JAMES LEGGE SUNDAY 05 MAY 2013
Israeli attacks are a 'declaration of war' says Syrian deputy foreign minister - Middle East - World - The Independent < click
