Assad threatens Israel over future air raids and attacks on Golan Heights
Beirut (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian President Bashar Assad has issued threats to Israel, saying that his country will respond to any future air raid and that there is "popular pressure" to open a war front on the Golan heights. Assad has also made it clear that he has received a first batch of missiles from Russia.
Israel considers
these missiles a great threat to its national security, because they could end
up in the hands of Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese Shiites for decades at war
with Israel, and now explicit allies of Assad.
Speaking
to pro-Hezbollah Al-Manar TV, Assad said: "We have informed all parties
that have contacted us, that the next time will respond to all Israeli
aggression ... There is a clear public pressure to open a new front of resistance on the Golan
Heights. "
Israel
has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, during the "Six Day War",
annexing it in 1981, although the international community does not recognize
the annexation. In
recent weeks there have been sporadic shots fired on Golan from Syria - perhaps
to target rebels - to which Israel has responded.
In the television
interview, Assad says that the Russians have already honored some of the
contracts signed with him. The
contracts provide for the supply of ground-to-air S-300 missile systems.
Israel
fears that these missiles could fall into the hands of Hezbollah, whose
militants are currently helping the regular army of Assad in the civil war.
Israel has
already launched several air raids in Syria, bombing trains to block the transfer
of sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel's
energy minister, Silvan Shalom said that Israel will only act to prevent the
missiles being used against them.
For
its part, Russia has not confirmed any supply of weapons, but Deputy Foreign
Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the missiles are a "stabilizing
factor" that can stop foreign intervention in Syria.
Meanwhile, the
United Nations is working towards a preparatory meeting for a possible
international conference on the Syrian conflict. The
meeting will take place on June 5, in the presence of representatives of the
United States, Russia and the UN.
Assad
said he was willing to participate if there are no "unacceptable" preconditions.
The opposition Syrian National Coalition, which recently met in Istanbul, has
stated that it will not take part in the conference as long as Hezbollah and
Iran (allies of Assad) remain involved in the conflict.
Meanwhile,
the Coalition has welcomed into its ranks 43 new members, including
representatives from 14 revolutionary groups operating in Syria and 15
commanders of the Free Syrian Army.
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