Syria, Iran threaten consequences for Israeli strike
Syria, Iran threaten consequences for Isra… JPost – Middle East.
( Waiting for the US to characterize the strike as legitimate self defense, and threatening retaliation if its ally, Israel is attacked. If it were ANY other ally, it would have already happened. – JW )
BEIRUT – Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon said on Thursday that Damascus had the option of a “surprise decision” to respond to what it said was an Israeli air strike on a research center on the outskirts of the Syrian capital on Wednesday.
Syria could take “a surprise decision to respond to the aggression of the Israeli warplanes,” Ali Abdul Karim Ali was quoted as telling a Hezbollah-run news website.
“Syria is engaged in defending its sovereignty and its land,” he added, without spelling out what the response might entail. Syria and Israel have fought several wars and in 2007 Israeli jets reportedly bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear site, without retaliation.
In the wake of reported Israeli air strike on a Syrian weapons center, Iran also issued a threat to Israel on Thursday.
The Iranian regime’s English language mouthpiece, Press TV, quoted a deputy foreign minister as saying that the “strike on Syria will have serious consequences for Tel Aviv.” The official did not elaborate.
Last week, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said that any attack on Syria would be seen by Tehran as an attack on itself.
The official, Ali Akbar Velayati, said the regime of Basher Assad is a central component of the “resistance front.”
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah condemned on Thursday an Israeli attack which it said targeted a Syrian research center, saying it was an attempt to thwart Arab military capabilities and pledging to stand by its ally President Bashar Assad.
“Hezbollah strongly condemns this new Zionist aggression on Syria,” the group said in a statement, calling for “wide-scale condemnation from the international community,” the group said in a statement.
The group “expressed its full solidarity with Syria’s leadership, army and people.”
Sources said on Wednesday that Israel Air Force jets bombed a convoy near Syria’s border with Lebanon, apparently targeting weapons destined for Hezbollah. Syria denied the reports, saying the target had been a military research center.
Russia said on Thursday it was very concerned about reports of an Israeli air attack deep inside Syria near Damascus and that any such action, if confirmed, would amount to unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country.
“If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Syrian state television accused Israel of bombing a military research center at Jamraya, between Damascus and the nearby border. Syrian rebels disputed that, saying their forces had attacked the site.
Russia has been trying to shield Syrian President Bashar Assad from international pressure to end the civil war against opposition forces that has ravaged the country over 22 months and killed an estimated 60,000 people. Moscow has repeatedly spoken against any foreign interference in Syria, especially military action.
WarSclerotic 
January 31, 2013 at 5:08 PM
The American response or lack of it will determine the Russian/Iranian/Syrian reaction.
January 31, 2013 at 5:11 PM
By threatening now, Iran and Syria are hoping to make the israeli attack ”only this time happening” and are trying to deter Israel from repeating these strikes in the future. All these, from the iranian part.
Of course, Israel will attack again if needed. In fact, Israel has no other choice. In fact, Israel is now ready for a full scale war with Iran, Hezbollah and Syria. The stakes are higher than ever and this game must be won by the side who is more prepared, has the quality on its side and the tools to win wars. If Iran will enter this game now, it will loose it for sure. The ayatollahs are not prepared for a full conflict with Israel; they don’t want it, either. And being the aggressor is not the game of the ayatollahs ; they like to pull strings and send others to fight their wars.
January 31, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Luis i know your in the loop but dont for one minute think Israel is on its own,if thers going to be a surprise attack it will be on iran and syria and russias floating scrap mountain,The USA is for sure going to be there and the UK France and Germany Canada,if anything the word is that Irael did not go far enough,i can see Damascus being burnt to the ground followed by tehran,and the russian floating pile of scrap metal..there’s nothing coming out of the US because of the Hagel appointment hearings..
January 31, 2013 at 6:47 PM
Everybody relax….
Nobody’s gonna attack the Russians nor will the Russians do fuck all.
I’m as certain of that as I am of anything having to do with geopolitical matters.
Less certain, but still giving odds, I don’t believe Syria, Hiz or Iran will do anything overtly either. Overseas terrorism perhaps.
They’re nuts, sure. But they’re also playing this game and playing it for all it’s worth. A direct attack on Israel will mean the end for all they’ve accomplished over the last 20 years, and they know it.
January 31, 2013 at 7:59 PM
I hope your right JW,i blame this all on Russia’s meddling,Why is russia testing Israelis air defences,in the cold war russia had plans to land marines in Israel,the difference now is russia is a very minor power,
January 31, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Lest we forget….
President Obama: On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him to give me space.
President Medvedev: Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you…
President Obama: (reaching over and putting his hand on Mr. Medvedev’s knee): This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.
President Medvedev: I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.
January 31, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Report: Hizbollah Already Has Syrian Chemical Weapons
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164769
January 31, 2013 at 6:01 PM
Syrian ‘rebel’ fact or manipulation??
January 31, 2013 at 6:04 PM
who can say, Imo I doubt Israel would have bombed a chemical weapons convoy crossing into Lebanon, the fall out would be too great.
January 31, 2013 at 6:43 PM
JW, do you remember those famous words? “I will have always Israel’s back”.
With obavez in control I’m not sure anymore whether the US would act that much different if it were any other US-ally.
Remember, Israel is not the first US-ally obavez threw under the bus.
Remember how obavez dropped the missile defence shield in Poland to appease the Russians.
If America continues on this dangerous path of isolationism it will be one day totally isolated with no friends in the world.
Sadly many Americans don’t realize how dangerous this will be for America itself.
They live under the illusion, that Americans will be happy and live in peace if they just leave the rest of the world alone and isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
The ugly truth is, that the vaccum America leaves as it retreats, will be filled by the powers that hate freedom.
They are not content with filling the vaccum but eventually the will attack America itself.
January 31, 2013 at 6:58 PM
artaxes….
If I may, let me offer an unlikely but interesting alternative view.
The Islamic world is currently self-destructing through internecine conflict pretty much everywhere. Iran managed to hold back the greens last time, but after the “Arab Spring” how much longer can they hold on?
Remember the Iran/Iraq war? The US flowed arms to which ever side was losing at the time and managed to keep our two worst opponents in the region busy destroying their military capabilities for eight years!
Whether intended or not, this “isolationism” seems to be having a similar effect.
In contradistinction to the “woe is us” media stories, I’m quite happy with whats happening both in Egypt and in Syria.
I hope the Iranians become deeply involved in Syria. It’s a “tar baby” special that will bleed them until they finally are force to leave, either because of defeat there or a collapse of the regime in Teheran.
January 31, 2013 at 9:15 PM
I agree JW, and might I add the Russians will be totally humiliated in the end. Damn good for them.
January 31, 2013 at 7:20 PM
I agree with you on Syria, Iran and also on the fact that Islam eats itself.
The Sunny/Shia struggle is going on since the earliest days of islam.
But despite the fact that they have been massacring each other ever since they stil had enough energy left to conquer large parts of Europe and Europe was dangerously close to beeing overrun at Poiters and Vienna.
While it is wise for the US to pull out of islamic countries, let them kill themselves and promote this mutual killing by selling weapons to both sides, it is not wise to dump its real allies like Europe and Israel.
January 31, 2013 at 9:03 PM
Breaking new on uk channel 4 Syrian troops are firing missiles and small arms on fleeing refugees on the Syria Jordan border
January 31, 2013 at 11:08 PM
UN says cannot verify Syria’s official complaint that Israel flew planes over the Golan Heights due to bad weather
haha
January 31, 2013 at 11:45 PM
We can now affirm with a certain degree of confidence that no iranian – syrian -proxies actions against Israel shall be expected.
After the last cold shower, everybody will go back to their usual business, killing each other. No sophisticated arms convoys are to be expected, either.No one wants to mess with Israel now, and we don’t say that with arrogance. The killing business in Syria are just too demanding, thats all.
February 1, 2013 at 5:45 AM
Here’s a little something pretty much backs you up Luis….
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/01/31/israel-expect-more-airstrikes-on-syria/