WarSclerotic

Iran: We’ll ‘cut off Israel’s feet’ if it attacks Syria – Haaretz – Israel News.

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Rida Rahimi warned on Friday that Iran would “cut off Israel’s feet” if it attacked Syria, French news agency AFP reported.

“We will stand alongside Syria against any [Israeli] threat,” Rahimi told reporters during a news conference with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri in Damascus, adding that “If those who have violated Palestinian land want to try anything we will cut off their feet.”

According to AFP, the Iranian vice president said that “[Syria is a] strong country that is ready to confront any threat,” adding that Tehran “will back Syria with all its means and strength.”

On Thursday, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to the recent torrent of allegations that Syria had transferred Scud missiles to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, and said that the Syrian President Bashar Assad was pursuing dangerous policies that could unleash war on the Middle East.

“We have spoken out forcefully about the grave dangers of Syria’s transfer of weapons to Hizbollah,” Clinton said. “We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and have expressed our concerns directly to the Syrian government.”

She added: “Transferring weapons to these terrorists – especially longer-range missiles – would pose a serious threat to the security of Israel.

It would have a profoundly destabilizing effect on the region.

“All states must stop supplying weapons to terrorist groups such as Hizbollah and Hamas. Every rocket smuggled into southern Lebanon or Gaza sets back the cause of peace.”

Clinton’s reference to long-range weapons follows reports that Syria supplied Hezbollah with advanced Scud missiles capable of inflicting sever damage on Israel’s major cities – a charge Damascus denies.

She said: “President Assad is making decisions that could mean war or peace for the region.”

Clinton went on to defend America’s recent decision to return an ambassador to Syria after a five-year absence.

“We know [Assad is] hearing from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, she said. “It is crucial that he also hear directly from us, so that the potential consequences of his actions are clear. That’s why we are sending an ambassador back to Syria.

“There should be no mistake, either in Damascus or anywhere else: The United States is not reengaging with Syria as a reward or a concession. Engagement is a tool that can give us added leverage and insight, and a greater ability to convey strong and clear messages aimed at changing Syria’s behavior.”

This entry was posted on April 30, 2010 at 6:09 PM and is filed under Iran / Israel War. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.