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Israel Warns of More Raids on Syria If It Fails to Rein in Hezbollah
Israeli army warned Syria on Monday that more attacks could be launched if Damascus fails to rein in Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah.
Israel's overnight airstrikes on a Syrian radar station in Lebanon has sent a message to Syria and Hezbollah that Damascus should no more support Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli army, Ron Kitrey, spokesman for Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said in a statement.
"The raid has demonstrated that Israel's patience was running out, and the signal is clear and I very much hope that it will be understood by decision-makers in Syria and of Hezbollah," Kitrey added.
Underscoring Kitrey remarks, the Israeli government issued a statement on Monday, saying "despite Israel's call to Syria to exert its influence on Hezbollah, Syria has not lifted a finger."
Earlier in the day, Ra'anan Gissin, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said that Israel's airstrikes against Syrian targets in Lebanon overnight has set a new "price list" for attacks on Israeli soldiers along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
"Not that we are interested in using it or putting it into effect, but there is a new 'price list' which certainly points out to the Syrians that there is a need for them, for the Hezbollah and for the Palestinians as well, to make a new reassessment regarding Israel's readiness, willingness and determination to react," he said.
Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian radar station in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley overnight, killing two Syrian soldiers and wounding six others, were in retaliation for the killing of an IDF soldier by Hezbollah fighters on Saturday, who Israel says are backed by Syria, the Israeli army said.
Syria is maintaining some 35,000 troops in Lebanon as peacekeepers.
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