May 4, 2013 (TSR-RT) – Israel has reportedly conducted an airstrike into Syrian territory in a bid to halt the flow of arms into Lebanon, according to several US officials who spoke to media anonymously.
According to initial reports Israeli warplanes were observed over Lebanese airspace, but there is no confirmation that any entered Syria’s.
American and other Western intelligence agencies are reviewing classified data showing that Israel conducted a strike in the Thursday-Friday time frame.
Lebanon’s army website had listed an unusual 16 flights by Israeli warplanes penetrating Lebanese airspace from Thursday evening through Friday afternoon local time.
Anonymous US officials who spoke with NBC said they believed that the target struck by Israeli forces was a weapons shipment meant for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and was “related to” chemical weapons technology. However, the Associated Press cited an unnamed official that believed the target was a warehouse.
Israeli Embassy spokesman Aaron Sagui did not comment Friday night specifically on the report of an Israeli strike.
“What we can say is that Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, especially to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” Sagui said via email to the AP.
On Friday, Syrian envoy to the UN Bashar Ja’afari stated that he is unaware of any Israeli airstrikes on his country following initial reports.
“I’m not aware of any attack right now,” Ja’afari told Reuters.
Israel last conducted an airstrike on Syria in January, when a convoy of anti-aircraft missiles thought to be bound for Hezbollah were intercepted.
That strike was publicly confirmed by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on April 22 during a joint press conference with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
During that appearance, Defense Minister Ya’alon declared that delivery of Syrian weapons to Hezbollah was considered a “red line.”
