12 rockets fall in town of Wadi Khaled

Source : LBCI News

The state-run National News Agency reported on Friday that 12 rockets crashed at break of dawn in the outskirts of the town of Wadi Khaled on the northern Lebanese border with Syria.

While no injuries were reported, the rockets are said to have been launched from the Syrian side in an attempt to sway the ongoing battle into the Lebanese front.

On Tuesday, 4 rockets also crashed in the town of Hermel, destroying one home and injuring three people.

One of the rockets hit a residential neighborhood in the center of the town while the other crashed near the hills facing the town, the state- run National News Agency reported.

The incident comes one day after Lebanese citizen Loulou Awad (17) was killed when a rocket crashed into her home.

In recent months, the Bekaa Valley has become a target for both the Syrian rebels and the Syrian army.

Officially, Lebanon is abiding by the policy of dissociation in regards to the conflict taking place in Syria.

However, the March 14 alliance has backed the uprising, while Hezbollah and its allies support Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Syria repeatedly said rebels and weapons are being smuggled into Syria from Lebanon, while rebels accuse Hezbollah of intervening in the conflict by sending fighters to combat alongside Syrian troops especially in al-Qusayr.

Turkey returns fire after troops shot at from Syria

Source : The Voice of Russia:

Turkish troops fired into Syria after one of its armoured vehicles patrolling the border came under fire from unidentified gunmen, the Turkish military said on Thursday.

Turkey returns fire after troops shot from Syria

The troops returned fire after three to five gunmen shot between 15 and 20 rounds the vehicle patrolling a stretch of the shared border in Turkey's southern Hatay prov on Wednesday afternoon, it said.

There were no Turkish troop casualties.

Voice of Russia, Reuters

Assad: Syria Will Strike Back at Any Future Israeli Attack

Source : RIA Novosti

DUBAI, May 31 (RIA Novosti) – President Bashar Assad has said that Syria “will respond in kind” to any future Israeli airstrike on its territory and expressed confidence in the victory over the foes of the Syrian state.

The Syrian government has been criticized for its muted response to recent Israeli airstrikes on several facilities in Syria in alleged attempts to stop shipments of missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.

“We have informed the relevant states that we will respond in kind [next time],” Assad said in a televised interview with Lebanese al-Manar TV on Thursday. “We plan for different scenarios, depending on the circumstances and the timing of the strike.”

Assad said there was "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights but such a move would require serious political, social and military deliberation.

Assad also said he had no doubts about his victory against opponents in a battle that he described as a "world war against Syria and the resistance [in reference to Hezbollah fighters]."

"Regarding my confidence about victory, had we not had this confidence, we wouldn't have been able to fight in this battle for two years, facing an international attack," he said.

Assad’s confident tone comes in a wake of a recent “shift in the balance of power” in the Syrian conflict as the government troops have scored a number of victories in the fight against the rebels throughout the country.

Assad reiterated his support of an international conference on Syria, which Russia and the United States attempt to put together in Geneva, but stressed that any outcome of this or any other Syria-related discussions by the international community must be “subject to the approval of the Syrian people through a popular referendum.”

“Nothing can be implemented without the approval of the Syrian people,” he said.

Asked about the controversial issue of the deliveries of Russian S-300 air defense systems to Syria, Assad simply said Russia is committed to honoring the existing defense contracts with Syria.

“All of our agreements with Russia will be implemented, some have been implemented during the past period and, together with the Russians, we will continue to implement these contracts in the future,” the Syrian president said.

Israeli military moves up to Lebanon border

Source : middleeastmonitor.com

The Israeli military has moved resources and personnel up to the border with Lebanon, installing a barbed wire fence near the occupied Shebaa Farms area on Jabal Al-Shaikh (Mount Hermon). According to a Lebanese security source in Beirut, the Israelis have also sent pilotless drones as well as manned aircraft over Southern Lebanon, including the Beqaa Valley.

The source added that several artillery shells were fired from the eastern edge of the occupied Shebaa Farms. No casualties were reported.

Doubts Cast Over Reported S-300 Deliveries to Syria

Source : RIA Novost

MOSCOW, May 30 (RIA Novosti) – Reports that Syria’s president had confirmed receiving a consignment of Russian- manufactured S-300 air defense systems emerged Thursday, but were quickly brought into question.

In comments widely reported across the world, Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar quoted Syrian President Bashar Assad as saying Damascus had received initial deliveries of the S-300 system.

Assad's remarks were allegedly made during a pre-recorded interview to be aired on Hezbollah-controlled Almanar television channel on Thursday evening at 10:00 p.m. Moscow time.

But a high-level source at Lebanon-based Almanar, who said he had been present throughout the interview, told RIA Novosti by telephone that at no point did Assad explicitly confirm any S-300 deliveries.

When Assad was asked about the delivery of the anti-missile systems, the source – who requested that his name not be printed – said, the Syrian president replied that “everything we have agreed with Russia will be implemented, and a part of it has been implemented already.”

By Thursday afternoon, the Al Akhbar newspaper, which reported Assad's comments as an exclusive, appeared to backtrack on the veracity of its story, which also included a statement attributed to Assad that the rest of the S-300 equipment "will arrive soon."

The Assad quotes were "professionally stolen" through sources at Almanar and any information provided by the television station is more reliable, an Al Akhbar employee told RIA Novosti in a telephone interview, also requesting anonymity.

Documents revealing the existence of an agreement between Russia and Syria to supply the sophisticated S-300 air defense system, which can target ballistic missiles as well as aircraft, were first reported in the Russian press in 2011, but official confirmations have been scant. However, earlier this week Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov mentioned the deal’s existence, according to Russian media, saying a contract for providing Syria with S-300s had been signed “several years ago.”

Reached by telephone Thursday, Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment on whether elements of the S-300 system had been successfully delivered to Syria.

The shipment of the S-300s is a source of contention between Moscow and Washington. Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry said the presence of the anti-missile systems in Syria would be “destabilizing” for the region.

Russian officials publicly refuse to confirm or deny the S-300 deliveries, but argue that they would be legal under international law and would help to contain the Syrian conflict.

Steps such as the delivery of S-300s are restraining some "hot heads" from turning the Syrian conflict into an international conflict with the participation of outside forces, Ryabkov said Tuesday.

S-300 missile systems, which are capable of simultaneously tracking up to 100 targets while engaging 12 at a range of up to 200 kilometers and a height of up to 27 kilometers, could dramatically raise the risks of a potential airstrike against Syrian targets.

Israeli jets have reportedly launched attacks on Syria, including the capital Damascus, several times this year. Tel Aviv said recent strikes in May were targeted at weapons being transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Western news agencies.

Al-Moallem: Syria Won’t Let any Israeli Aggression Unanswered

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Wednesday that Syria will immediately respond to any possible future attacks by the Zionist regime.

In an interview with Lebanese TV station al-Mayadeen, Al Moallem said that any response from Damascus will b given without a warning. “Syria will not let any Israe aggression go unanswered without retaliation. Th retaliation will be the same size as the aggression, and the same type of weapons will be used,” he said.

Moallem added that Syria would take part in th upcoming talks in Geneva without any precondition adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would remain president until the next presidential election scheduled to be held in 2014. "From now until the nex elections, President Bashar al-Assad is the president o the Syrian Arab Republic," he said.

The Syrian foreign minister noted that any deal reached in the Geneva talks, due to be held possibly next month would be put to a referendum inside Syria. "If it wins th support of the Syrian people, we will go ahead with it, Moallem said.

Russia May Revise Ban on Syrian Arms Exports - Minister

Source : RIA Novosti

HELSINKI, May 29 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is disappointed with the EU move to end the ban on arms sales to the Syrian opposition and may reconsider its own commitments to restrictions on weapons deliveries to the war- torn country, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

“Every decision has two sides. If one side lifts restrictions, the other may consider itself free from observing earlier commitments,” Shoigu said at a joint news conference in Helsinki with his Finnish counterpart, Carl Haglund.

Russia has been harshly criticized by the West for reported deliveries of six S-300 air defense systems to Syria under a 2010 contract rumored to be worth $900 million.

Moscow, however, has insisted that such deliveries would be legal under international law and has denied supplying Syria with offensive weapons that can be used to kill civilians.

Before the start of the rebellion against Bashar Assad’s regime in March 2011, Syria, the largest importer of Russian arms in the Middle East, had shown interest in purchasing various armored vehicles, Yak- 130 combat trainer aircraft and Iskander-E tactical ballistic missiles.

Moscow decided at the time to hold off delivering offensive weapons to the Syrian regime on worries that it could upset the balance of power in the Middle East.

Israeli warning over missiles

Source : Shanghai Daily

Israel's defense minister signaled that his military is prepared to strike shipments of Russian weapons to Syria, in a rare implied threat to Moscow.

Moshe Yaalon issued his warning shortly after a Russian official said his government reserved the right to provide Syria with air defense missiles.

"As far as we are concerned, that is a threat," Yaalon told reporters. "At this stage I can't say there is an escalation. The shipments have not been sent on their way yet," he said.

But "if God forbid they do reach Syria, we will know what to do."

Russia says committed to Syria missiles deal

Source : Al Akhbar English

Russia will not scrap plans to deliver an air defense system to Syria despite Western opposition because it would help deter "hotheads" intent on intervention in the two-year-old conflict, the deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also accused the European Union of "throwing fuel on the fire" by letting its own arms embargo on Syria expire.

"This directly harms the prospects of convening an international conference," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, referring to the EU decision Monday to lift an embargo against arming Syrian rebels but not the Damascus government.

But in some of the most explicit comments about Moscow's supplies of S-300 missiles to date, Ryabkov said the controversial contract to send the anti-aircraft missiles to Syria acted as a "stabilizing factor" in the Middle East.

"We consider these supplies a stabilizing factor," he said, adding that it could act as a deterrence against foreign intervention.

Russian officials have not disclosed whether S-300s have actually been sent to Syria and Ryabkov would not specify.

"I can't confirm or deny that these deliveries have taken place, I can only say that we will not disavow them," Ryabkov said. "We see that this issue worries many of our partners but we have no basis to review our position in this sphere."

Ryabkov's comments sparked a quick reaction from Israel, which said it "will know what to do" if the missile deliveries were made – an apparent allusion to another air-strike on Syria.

Ryabkov added that the missile supplies were related to a contract signed several years ago with the Syrian regime.

The minister also stressed that the weapons were purely defensive, insisting that they were designed to protect the government against outside forces, rather than serving to crush the domestic opposition.

Ryabkov reiterated that Russia's arms deliveries to Syria were legitimate because they were conducted under pre-war agreements that were reached with an internationally recognized government.

Ryabkov also argued that the fractured opposition's failure up to this stage to appoint a single representative at the proposed conference was the biggest existing stumbling block to peace.

"The fragmented nature of the groups fighting the government and the inability of our partners including the United States and the EU to ensure a sufficient level of representation by the opposition at the conference are the main stumbling block today."

The European Union agreed late Monday to lift its embargo on arming the opposition after much debate and a strong push for the measure by France and Britain.

A French official in Paris stressed that this was a "theoretical" lifting of the embargo that would not go into effect until August 1 at the earliest because the EU did not want to hurt the peace talks pushed by Moscow and Washington.

Israel 'will know what to do' over Russia missiles

Source : AFP

JERUSALEM — Israel "will know what to do" if Russia delivers anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, its defence minister said Tuesday, in an apparent allusion to another air strike on the war-torn neighbouring country.

"The deliveries have not taken place, and I hope they do not. But if, by misfortune, they arrive in Syria, we will know what to do," Moshe Yaalon said.

His comments came after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said providing the missiles to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad would be a "stabilising factor" aimed at deterring any foreign intervention in Syria.

Speaking in Moscow, Ryabkov said "we consider these supplies a stabilising factor and believe such steps will deter some hotheads from considering scenarios that would turn the conflict international with the involvement of outside forces."

Earlier this month, Israel launched air raids inside Syria targeting what sources said were arms destined for its arch foe, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, whose fighters have entered the conflict alongside the Syrian army.

The strikes ramped up regional tension, with Syria threatening to hit back.

Israel and Russia's opposing standpoints over Syria surfaced shortly afterwards, with the Jewish state criticising Russian arms deals with Assad, and Moscow appearing to warn against further Israeli strikes.

Syrian Envoy: Russia's S-300 Missiles Shipments to Damascus Never Halted

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The military-technical cooperation contracts between Russia and Syria have not been changed, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad said.

All agreements signed between Syria and Russia "are being implemented without any changes", the Syrian envoy told Interfax.

Haddad was commenting on reports that Russia allegedly halted the shipment of S-300 missile systems to Syria at Israel's request.

3 LAF soldiers beaten, shot in the head near the town of Arsal

Source : LBCI News

Three Lebanese Armed Forces' soldiers were killed on Tuesday after unknown assailants opened fire at them at 3 am at dawn in the region of Wadi Hmeid on the outskirts of Arsal.

The LAF took airtight measures in the region in order to identify the assailants who escaped towards an unknown direction.

In this regard, a security source told LBCI that the soldiers' checkpoint in Arsal was stormed with a Hummer, their arms were seized, they were then beaten and shot in their heads, adding that the rest of LAF soldiers in the military checkpoint opened fire at the five assailants, but they managed to escape.

A military source also told LBCI that most of the assailants who opened fire at LAF soldiers are Syrian nationals.

This as schools and shops in the town of Arsal closed their doors in protest of the heinous attack that targeted the soldiers.

It is not the first time the LAF soldiers fall victim to the Arsal violence. LAF troops were ambushed in Arsal on Friday February 1st, 2013, while trying to detain fugitive, Khaled Hmeid, suspected of involvement in the 2011 kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists who were abducted in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and held for nearly four months before being released in July that year.

Khaled Hmeid was injured in the raid and subsequently succumbed to his wounds. Shortly after his capture around 80 gunmen adamant on avenging Hmeid's capture followed the LAF troops who reportedly were stuck on the road leading out of the town due to the accumulation of snow. The gunmen attacked the troops leaving Major Pierre Bachaalany and Adjutant Ibrahim Zahraman for dead. The two were then taken alongside the remaining injured troops to the towns municipality and paraded in a show of celebration.

Israel disclaims a report about Moscow abolition to “S-300” contract to Syria

Source : شبكة عاجل الإخبارية

Israeli sources have denied a report published by the British newspaper “Sunday Time” that Russia will not be committed to hand over the “S-300” missiles to Syria.

The contract has not been eliminated. In fact, it is a myth because there was not any agreement or harmony between Putin and Netanyahu, Israeli sources state according to the Lebanese newspaper al-Safer.

The commander of the Air Forces in Israeli Army Amir Eshel declared the last week that “these missiles are in their way to Syria”, as The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey pointed to the transaction, considering it «a sophisticated system may upset the balance and increase the risk. And he said, America can deal with the Syrian arsenal of weapons, but it is not possible to prevent shipping arms to it».

Rocket Fired from Southern Lebanon Hits North of Occupied Palestine

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Media sources confirmed that a missile was launched from the Lebanese town of Marjayoun towards the occupied northern territories of Palestine.

The sources said sounds of sirens in the Zionist settlements north of the occupied territories were heard after the fall of the rocket.

The Zionist military said it was investigating reports from residents of the northern Israeli town of Metula that they had heard the explosion.

Israeli forces and UN troops investigated the area near the Lebanese border early on Monday but did not detect any activity or damage. “An explosion was heard. Soldiers are searching the area. The cause is still being investigated,” an Israeli military spokeswoman said.

A Lebanese high-ranking military official denied the attack. “No rocket was fired on Israel,” the official told Voice of Lebanon radio although he confirmed that an explosion had taken place.

Al-Manar website sources said an Israeli patrol moved near the barbed-wire fence near Al-Metula region facing the town of Kfar Kila.

“Unknown side had fired a 107Katyusha rocket from the vicinity of the town of Burj Almolouk - Deir Mimas, and fell in the southern part of Al-Metula border settlement which led to the launch of sirens in Metula and Kiryat Shmona. Also alerting movements were observed in the region opposite to Khiam plain,” the sources indicated.

Source: Al-Manar Website

Israel drills unconventional warfare

Source : Xinhua

JERUSALEM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Amid mounting tensions with Syria, Israel's military and rescue forces on Sunday launched a nationwide drill aimed at testing their readiness to cope with an unconventional weapons attack on the home front.

The four-day exercise, named "Steadfast Home Front 1," simulates hundreds of missiles -- some armed with chemical warheads and fired from neighboring foes Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and possibly Iran -- striking the greater Tel Aviv area and major cities across the country.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command, the Home Front Defense Ministry and the Defense Ministry's National Emergency Authority are overseeing the event, the seventh held since the 2006 Lebanon War, when an estimated 4,000 rockets were lobbed at northern Israel.

Government offices and local authorities, in conjunction with first-responders -- including police, firefighters and paramedics - - are leading the exercise, which also aims to test the civilian population's response to mainly unconventional missile strikes.

As part of the simulation, two air-raid sirens will sound across the country on Monday, alerting civilians to seek refuge in protected areas wherever possible.

The IDF was careful to emphasize that this week's drill, which commenced Sunday at southern farming communities bordering Egypt, is not related to heightened tensions with Syria.

"This exercise is mostly intended to reach out to the civilian population, to make sure that they are aware of the threats around us, to know what they need to do in case of emergencies," Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, told reporters in a conference call on Saturday night.

"The scenarios being drilled were planned a year in advance, well before the current tensions," he added.

Seeking to downplay fears of a nearing chemical attack, Home Front Defense Minister Gilad Erdan said over the weekend that Israel is not headed toward a war with Syria, and that the main threat remains a conventional missile attack.

"The scenario in which Syria uses chemical weapons against Israel is more likely than in the past, but is defined in low probability," Erdan told Channel 2 TV on Saturday. "Our enemies know that the use of unconventional weaponry will entail a very harsh and destructive response.

Last week, Erdan told a news conference that missile strikes on Israel's major cities are a matter of time. "The question is no longer if. The question now is when will they fire on population centers? It can happen tonight, or next week."

Jordan to deploy Patriot missiles along border with Syria

Source : Al Akhbar English

Jordan, which shares borders with war-torn Syria, said on Sunday it is in talks with "friendly countries" to deploy Patriot missiles on its territory after a similar move by Turkey.

"Jordan wishes to deploy Patriot missile batteries in order to boost its defense capabilities and help protect the country," Information Minister Mohammed Momani told a news conference.

"We are currently at the stage of talks with friendly states," said Momani, who is also government spokesman, declining to elaborate.

A NATO source told AFP last week that four batteries of Patriot missiles have arrived in Turkey as part of a mission by the alliance to protect the Turkish border from any spillover of the conflict in neighboring Syria.

NATO approved their deployment in December, claiming the use of ballistic missiles by the Syrian government posed a threat to Turkey.

Jordan, home to more than 500,000 Syrian refugees, has similar concerns as Turkey.

"We wish and we demand Patriot missiles. We always talk about this because we want to protect ourselves," Jordan's Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur told Qatar's al-Sharq newspaper last week.

Other countries in possession of Patriot missiles in the region include Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

In April, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel revealed that some 150 US military specialists have been deployed in Jordan since last year and that he had ordered a US Army headquarters team to bolster the mission, bringing the total American presence to more than 200 troops.

Iraqi Forces Launch Operation against Militants near Syria

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

The Iraqi forces started a military operation on Saturday to improve the security of the country’s western desert and the border provinces of Anbar and Nineveh as concerns were voiced about using these areas as strongholds and passages for the militants heading to fight in Syria. Around 20,000 soldiers were sent the troops to the 600-kilometer border with Syria to start attacking the hideouts of the militants who belong to terrorist groups including al-Qaeda. Also the Iraqi troops are looking to secure a key road that lead to Syria. “The operation is large and backed up by the air force,” said Staff General Ali Ghaidan Majeed. Dozens of the terrorist militants have been killed and others have been arrested since the beginning of the military operation that has also left several militants’ households damaged.

Five wounded in southern Beirut rocket attack

Source : Xinhua

BEIRUT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Two rockets hit the Hezbollah- controlled southern part of Lebanon's capital on Sunday, wounding five people, the state-run National news agency reported.

One Grad rocket landed in a car showroom in the Mar Mikhael district and another struck an apartment building in Chiyah district, the report said.

The attack came after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah overtly defended his group's backing to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Three Israeli Military Aircraft Violate Lebanese Airspace

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Three Israeli military aircraft penetrated Lebanese airspace and flew over several areas of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

Two Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanon's airspace over the Southern border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) South of Beirut, at 9:45 am local time (0645 GMT) on Friday, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese military, press tv reported.

The warplanes flew over several areas in Lebanon before leaving the country's airspace at 12:15 pm local time (0915 GMT) while flying over the town of Alma al-Shaab.

On Thursday, an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle crossed into Lebanon's airspace over the town of Alma al-Shaab at 9:10 pm local time (1810 GMT). The plane carried out surveillance flights over several areas in Southern Lebanon, including the towns of Riyaq and Baalbek, and left at 2:30 am local time on Friday (2330 GMT on Thursday).

On May 19, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman denounced the Israeli regime's repeated incursions into Lebanon's airspace.

He said the Israeli overflights were "an attempt to raise tensions in Southern Lebanon against the international will, which is represented by the UN peacekeeping forces in the area".

Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.

Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of Lebanese territory

Most American voters oppose US military intervention in Syria: Poll

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

A new opinion poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to a potential military intervention by the United States in Syria.

According to a Fox News poll conducted from May 18 to May 20, about 68 percent of the people surveyed opposed the US military intervention and said Washington should not get more involved in the internal affairs of Syria. The respondents said Washington could be supporting anti- American extremist groups in the long run by helping the foreign- backed militants in Syria. About 70 percent of those who were against intervention in Syria were Republicans, 69 percent Democrats, and 65 percent independents. The poll also showed that only 23 percent of people in the US support military intervention in Syria. On May 21, the US Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 for a bill that would provide lethal assistance and military training to the militants in Syria. The bill is, however, not binding. Many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers, have been killed in the turmoil. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on May 18 that militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country."

5 zionist israeli soldiers killed in the vehicle destroyed by Syrian Army

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

Unofficial Syrian sources in al-Qunaitera told “al-Rae’e”, Kuwaiti newspaper, that not only an Israeli vehicle has been completely destroyed, but also other 5 Israeli soldiers were killed in the operation in which Syrian Army targeted an Israeli vehicle as it was trying to trespass the cease-fire line at the village of Bir Ajam in al-Golan.

The newspaper reported civil witnesses that: “the Israeli vehicle has been completely destroyed with its 5-member crew as it was trying to trespass cease-fire line in the village of Bir Ajam that witnesses clashes between Syrian Army and militant groups for more than 8 months.”

Sources also said that the Israeli side has been put on alert since the last raid by Israel at the outskirts of Damascus where a lot of Israeli tanks have been deployed in more than one point opposite to the liberated city of al-Qunaitera and also opposite to the villages of Bir Ajam and Breikah.

Same sources made clear that although a skirmish took place yesterday, but still “life is normal and also apple-charging continues from the occupied villages in al-Golan Hill at the crossing point of the liberated city of Qunaitera by UNDOF forces and International Committee of the Red Cross.

Syrian missiles in Israeli cities "a matter of time": Israeli minister

Source : Xinhua

JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Syrian missile strikes on major urban centers in Israel are "just a matter of time," Israel's Home Front Defense Minister Gilad Erdan said Tuesday ahead of a nationa civil defense drill scheduled for next week.

"It is no longer a question of whether missiles will be fired toward dense population centers, but when. My answer is that it doesn't really matter. It can happen tonight or next week. The flare-ups along our borders do not solely depend on the Israeli army or its wishes," Erdan told reporters hours after Israeli and Syrian forces exchanged fire in the central Israeli occupied Golan Heights overnight Monday.

In an interview later in the day with Army Radio, Erdan said the Iron Dome missile defense system would not be able to intercept all the projectiles that would be fired toward Israel in the event of a war with Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"It's obvious that central Israel will also be hit in the next conflict," Erdan said.

Last week, local media outlets widely cited a recent report drafted by the Home Front Defense Ministry, which determines that Israel is ill-prepared to shield its civilian population from an unconventional terror attack.

"As of today, the preparedness of government offices and authorities against the threat of unconventional weapons is medium- low ... while the threat of an unconventional terror attack unfolding has also risen," said the report.

"... The main concern focuses on chemical and biological weapons reservoirs in Syria. Loss of control of the regime would bring these materials to a variety of terrorist groups already active in the region," the report said. It underscored that Israel is critically short on gas masks after all of the current stockpile is distributed.

In response to the report, Erdan said the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "understands well" the difference between conventional weapons and unconventional weapons.

"Syria won't dare turn its chemical weapons against Israel ... we have very strong response capabilities," he said.

Israel and the West have been accusing the Syrian troops of possessing chemical weapons and using them against civilians, while Damascus denied the claims and blamed the rebels for causing deaths by such weapons.

Israel, Syria show teeth: Third cross-border shootout in week

Source : Tehran Times

Israeli troops opened “retaliating” fire at targets across the Syrian border with Syria later claiming it destroyed an Israeli military vehicle stationed in Golan Heights. This is a third consecutive cross-border shooting in a week, Israeli media say.

The Israeli military said their troops had “returned precise fire” after a Syrian soldier allegedly caused damage to a military vehicle stationed in Golan Heights, near the border.

The shots “most likely were stray bullets, we don't know if it was intentional,” an Israeli spokesperson told AFP. There were no injuries following the initial shots.

Soon after that the Syrian military declared in a televised statement that in response they had successfully targeted a further Israeli vehicle:

“Our armed forces have destroyed an Israeli vehicle with everything that it had in it... The vehicle had crossed the ceasefire line and was moving towards the village of Bir Ajam, situated in the liberated Syrian zone [of the Golan].”

Tel-Aviv denied the claims. Israel’s Army Radio however said the Tuesday incident was the third consecutive cross-border shooting this week and the military considers the incident to be concerning. Cross-border gunfire incidents have become a more frequent occurrence in recent months amid the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Fire from the conflict within Syria has intermittently struck Golan Heights, with Israel generally accepting these incidents as accidental. However, Israel has occasionally retaliated for the bullets and infrequent mortar shells entering the border territory, which they captured from Syria in 1967.

Airstrikes – attributed to Israel, but not confirmed – struck military posts in Syria at the beginning of May, with the blasts reportedly killing scores of soldiers.

Israel has never made an official comment on the strikes, but only stated it would do everything against the prospect of its foes in Lebanon obtaining weapons smuggled through Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sochi exactly a week ago, with both agreeing that the two -year Syrian armed conflict, if continued, could lead to “disastrous consequences” for the region.

(Source: RT)

Israel army warns Syria of Golan unrest 'consequences'

Source : The Voice of Russia:

The head of Israel's armed forces warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "consequences" on Tuesday if fire from Syrian territory against Israeli troops in the occupied Golan continues.

"If he disturbs the Golan Heights, he will have to bear the consequences," Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said in remarks broadcast on privately-owned Channel 10 TV.

Israeli military vehicle destroyed by Syrian army in Golan Heights

Source :  Ahlul Bayt News Agency

Syria says its army has destroyed an Israeli military vehicle in the occupied Golan Heights, adding that the vehicle had crossed the Golan ceasefire line.

General Command of the Army and the Armed Forces said that our armed forces destroyed an Israeli vehicle entered from the occupied territories and exceeded the cease-fire line towards the village of Bir Ajam.

" The village is located in the liberated area of Syrian territories where there ar armed terrorist groups, " the General Command said in a statement issued Tuesday.

" Following that, the Israeli enemy fired two rockets from the occupied site of al-Faras toward one of our sites in al-Zubaydiah site; no casualties reported, " statement said.

It added that the aggression aims at raising the terrorist groups' collapsed mo due to the painful blows they received at the hands of our armed forces in mo than one a place, especially in al-Qsier area.

The General Command of the Army and the Armed Forces said that the blatan aggression confirms again the involvement of the Zionist entity in the ongoing events in Syria and the direct coordination with the armed terrorist gangs.

The statement stressed that any breach or an attempt to violate the state sovereignty will be responded.

Zionist Troops in Golan Return Fire from Syria

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Israeli occupation soldiers patrolling the occupied Golan Heights along the border with Syria fired back after coming under fire overnight, an Israeli military statement said Tuesday.

“Overnight, shots were fired at an IDF patrol on the border in the central Golan Heights, damaging a military vehicle,” said a statement on the army’s website. No one had been wounded, it added.

“In response, IDF forces returned precise fire at the source of the gunfire. They reported a direct hit,” the statement added. “The IDF views the recent incidents in the north with concern and has lodged a complaint with UNDOF,” the UN Disengagement Force responsible for patrolling that area.

Early on Monday, the Zionist entity claimed that small-arms fire from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, causing no harm or damage. They also filed a complaint with the UN force on that occasion.

Lebanon denies receiving warning message from Israel

Source : Xinhua

BEIRUT, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Monday denied receiving any warning message from Israel that it would destroy Lebanon if Hezbollah attacked the Jewish state.

The presidential media office said in a statement that the president hasn't received such a warning "although Israeli threats and violations of Lebanese airspace never stop."

The denial came after an Israeli website reported that Tel Aviv has sent a warning to Lebanon through the U.S. administration that it would "take Lebanon 50 years backwards" if Hezbollah attacked Israel.

The report said the message was delivered to Lebanese president.

Earlier this month, Suleiman urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop violating Lebanese airspace, saying its activities were in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In July 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, which led to a 33-day war that killed more than 1,200 Lebanese civilians as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Two Warships Join Russia’s Mediterranean Task Force

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, May 21 (RIA Novosti) - Two warships of Russia’s Black Sea fleet joined the country’s Mediterranean task force on Monday, a spokesman for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Capt. First Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachyov, has said.

The Defense Ministry said in April Russia has begun setting up a naval task force in the Mediterranean, sending several warships from the Pacific Fleet to the region. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in March a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean was needed to defend Russia’s interests in the region.

"During a planned rotation, large landing ships Nikolai Filchenkov and Azov from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have started performing their tasks in the Mediterranean,” Trukhachyov said.

The task force currently includes vessels from the Pacific, Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets: the Admiral Panteleyev and Severomorsk destroyers, the Yaroslav Mudry frigate, the Peresvet and Admiral Nevelskoi amphibious warfare ships, the Fotiy Krylov, Altai and SB-921 salvage/rescue tugs, the PM- 138 repair ship, the Pechenga, Lena and Dubna tankers.

Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the parliamentary defense committee, previously told RIA Novosti that the Mediterranean task force should be comprised of 10 warships and support vessels as part of several tactical groups tasked with attack, antisubmarine warfare and minesweeping.

The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy's 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels.

Syria Readied Its Most Advanced Missiles with Orders to Hit Israel: Report

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Syria has put its most advanced missiles on standby with orders to hi Tel Aviv if the Zionist entity launches another raid on its territory according to the Sunday Times.

Reconnaissance satellites have been monitoring preparations by the Syrian army to deploy surface-to- surface Tishreen missiles.

An Israeli official told The New York Times that the entity, which has launched three recent attacks on Syria, was considering further strike and warned President Bashar al-Assad that his government would fac “crippling consequences” if he hit back at ‘Israel’.

Syria gunfire hits Israel-occupied Golan - army

Source : The Voice of Russia

Shots fired from Syria hit the central Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, a military spokeswoman said Monday morning, causing no harm or damage.

According to the spokeswoman, the shots were from small arms, and "most likely were stray bullets, we don't know if it was intentional."

Palestinian group in Damascus says forming combat units to fight for Golan Heights

A militant Palestinian group in Damascus said it is forming combat units to try to recapture Israeli-occupied territory, in particular the Golan Heights, after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah that they would support such operations.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) said it was preparing for new operations after nearly 40 years of quiet on the Israel-Syria border.

The group, designated terrorists by the United States and others in the West, was most active in the 1970s and 80s but retains influence with Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon.

"The leadership of the PFLP-GC announces that it will form brigades to work on liberating all violated (Israeli-occupied) territories, first and foremost the occupied Golan," it said in a statement late on Friday.

"The Popular Front's leaders have opened the door to all Syrian citizens to volunteer in the formation of the resistance."

Syria to 'respond immediately' to any new Israeli strike

Syria will "respond immediately" to any new Israeli attack against its territory, its deputy foreign minister told AFP on Thursday, after two reported Israeli strikes last week.

"The instruction has been made to respond immediately to any new Israeli attack without (additional) instruction from any higher leadership, and our retaliation will be strong and will be painful against Israel," Faisal Muqdad said.

He spoke in an interview with AFP in the Syrian capital. Senior Israeli sources said the strikes targeted weapons bound for the powerful Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, a close ally of Damascus. Muqdad denied that.

"They absolutely did not achieve their objective and they lied when they said they are targeting Hezbollah," he said.There is "no way Syria will allow this to happen again," he added.

Israel reportedly targeted military sites near the capital Damascus early on Friday morning and again early on Sunday morning, with at least 42 soldiers reported dead in the second strike.

The Jewish state has repeatedly warned it will intervene to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah, with which it fought a devastating 2006 war.

The strikes last week were the third time Israel is thought to have hit sites inside Syria since the beginning of an uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. That first was in January of this year.

The uprising, which began with peaceful protests, has devolved into a bloody conflict that has killed more than 70,000 people, according to the UN, and displaced millions of Syrians.

Israel may attack Syria over Russia arms deal with Damascus

Source : Strategic-Culture.org

Western analysts believe that Israel may be forced to attack other weapon shipments in Syria as Russia says that it will remain committed to previous weapons deal with Damascus.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow would remain committed to previously signed arms deal "regarding agreements pertaining to aerial defense weapons."

The Russian Foreign Minister added, however, that Russia would not sign any new deal with Syria.

This is while The New York Times reported earlier that Moscow has sent upgraded anti-ship cruise guided missiles, Yakhonts, to Syria which could be used to fight any seaborne attack by the US and its allies.

According to The Guardian, experts believe these systems would be a powerful defense against any effort to enforce a naval embargo on Syria or launch aerial attack against the country.

Meanwhile, CIA chief John Brennan made a visit on Friday to Israel to meet Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other senior officials following Tel Aviv’s recent attacks against Syria.

On May 5, Syria said the Israeli regime had carried out an airstrike targeting a research center in a suburb of Damascus, following heavy losses of al- Qaeda-affiliated groups at the hands of the Syrian army. According to Syrian media reports, Israeli rockets struck the Jamraya Research Center.

The Jamraya facility was also targeted in an Israeli airstrike in January.

The May 5 attack came shortly after Tel Aviv confirmed that its warplanes had hit another target in Syria on May 3.

Islamic Jihad Urges Muslim Confrontation with Israeli Aggressions

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement to Tehran Nasser Abusharif strongly condemned the recent Israeli air raid on Syria, and called on all Islamic states to confront the Zionist regime's aggressive moves to prevent similar events in future.

Speaking to FNA on Sunday, Abusharif said the recent Israeli airstrike on Syria was "a blatant violation of an independent state."

"We in the Islamic Jihad Movement condemn the attack and, of course, this opposition should not be limited to criticism and condemnation in words. Rather, we want confrontation with this occupying enemy because we blame a major part of the regional problems on this occupying regime and the western plots which are hatched and exercised in support of this regime."

"Arab and Islamic nations could counter this Zionist enemy through unity and solidarity and prevent it from repeating its aggressions against Muslim territories," the Palestinian figure stated.

"It is the time for the Islamic Ummah (community) to confront this cancerous tumor and wipe it out from the region."

Earlier this month, Syria said the Israeli regime had carried out an airstrike targeting a research center in a suburb of Damascus after heavy losses were inflicted on al-Qaeda-affiliated groups by the Syrian army. According to Syrian media reports, Israeli rockets struck the Jamraya research center.

The Israeli aggression was Tel Aviv's second strike on Syria in three days and the third in the last five months.

The Jamraya facility was also targeted in an Israeli airstrike in January.

Russia rebuffs criticism over Syria arms shipments

Source : Al Akhbar English

Russia's foreign minister on Friday brushed off Western criticism of Moscow for supplying of weapons to Syria’s government.

"I do not understand why the media is trying to create a sensation out of this," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "We have not hidden that we supply weapons to Syria under signed contracts, without violating any international agreements, or our own legislation."

Lavrov said during a joint press appearance in Sochi with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that Russia only supplied defense weapons that could not alter the outcome of the 26-month conflict between the army and the opposition.

"We are first and foremost supplying defense weapons related to air defense," Lavrov said in televised comments.

"This does not in any way alter the balance of forces in this region or give any advantage in the fight against the opposition," he stressed.

The comments come as the United States on Thursday blacklisted four Syrian government ministers, an airline and a television station it said helped the government in its two-year crackdown on opposition forces.

The same day, the US State Department labeled as a terrorist Mohammad al-Golani, for being the leader of the al-Nusra Front. The group is one of the most effective forces fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but also pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri last month.

The US Treasury Department said the government-owned airline, Syrian Arab Airlines, helped Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards ship illegal cargo – including rockets, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition – to aid the Syrian government.

The United States also accused the privately held Al-Dunya Television of assisting government propaganda by airing forced confessions. Dunya also helped the government disseminate fake weapons busts and arrest people it had interviewed, according to Treasury.

Treasury also blacklisted, or designated, four Syrian officials: the ministers of defense, health, industry, and justice, as part of its broader steps to stymie the government's activities.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) meanwhile on Friday said more than 1.5 million people have fled Syria as conditions there deteriorate rapidly.

"The fact that more than 1.5 million have registered or have appointments with UNHCR sadly means the actual number is much higher," UNHCR said in a statement, without giving an estimate for the total.

"Refugees tell us the increased fighting and changing of control of towns and villages, in particular in conflict areas, results in more and more civilians deciding to leave," it said.

Most of the refugees have fled to neighboring Lebanon and Jordan where UNHCR said it had counted 470,457 and 473,587 respectively this week.

Syria's population is 23 million.y

S-300 supplies to Syria not linked to Israel's airstrikes - Lavrov

Source : Strategic-Culture.org

The decision to ship S-300 missile complexes to Syria is not linked to Israel's airstrikes on Syrian territory and was made long before the attacks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"Initially missile defense systems are delivered to protect the county that buys them from airstrikes. But these contracts were signed long before airstrikes on Syria were launched last year and now," Lavrov said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV channel.

Moscow is fulfilling previous agreements on missile defense means and have not signed any new contract with Damascus, he said.

"Those who do not plan aggressive actions against a sovereign state have nothing to worry about, because air defense means - and it comes clear from the name - are a purely defensive system required to repel air attacks," Lavrov said.

"We do not violate any laws, and we do not want to loose the image of a secure supplier," he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concerns over reports about Israel's airstrikes at facilities in Damascus suburbs on May 3 and May 5. Syrian authorities in particular reported that Israel attacked an R&D center in Damascus suburbs on May 5.

Israel has neither confirmed nor refuted the airstrikes reports. According Israeli media, the airstrikes targeted not the R&D center but Iranian missiles that were transferred from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syrian territory.

Voice of

Israel Threatens More Syria Attacks, Warns Assad Not to Retaliate

Source : Strategic-Culture.org

Israeli officials have issued a bizarre statement today regarding their intentions to continue attacking Syria in the near future, warning Syrian President Bashar Assad that he’d better just lie down and accept it.

The statement, made by an unnamed “senior” official, said Israel was determined to continue its strikes, and that if Assad dared to retaliate for any of the attacks “he will risk forfeiting his regime, for Israel will retaliate.”

President Assad has faced much internal criticism for not responded to this month’s previous Israeli attacks, and has fought off those complaints with statements threatening to eventually attack Israel in response, but at a time of his own choosing.

Though Israel often openly talks about attacking its neighbors, and indeed often follows through with those attacks, it is unprecedented for them to preface the attack by threatening more attacks if the target retaliates.

The threatening regime change, however, may be a blunder on Israel’s part, as it will surely be used by the Assad government in the days and weeks to come as evidence that Israel is secretly backing the al-Qaeda-endorsed rebellion, a charge the rebels desperately want to avoid.

Russia has data that Israel targeted Syrian defense facilities in May - Lavrov

Source : Strategic-Culture.org

Moscow has data that Israel's airstrikes on Syrian territory in early May targeted Syria's defense facilities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We said that we want to study each circumstance of this issue, and we have clarified a lot for ourselves. We wanted to understand what targets were attacked," Lavrov said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV channel.

"According to our assessment the targets are elements of Syria's defense system. I do not want to go into detail," he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concerns over reports about Israel's airstrikes at facilities in Damascus suburbs on May 3 and May 5.

Syrian authorities in particular reported that Israel attacked an R&D center in Damascus suburbs on May 5.

Israel has neither confirmed nor refuted the airstrikes reports.

According Israeli media, the airstrikes targeted not the R&D center but Iranian missiles that were transferred from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syrian territory.

REPORT: Israel boosts military maneuvers along border with Syria and Lebanon

Source : LBCI

Israel's threats to topple the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, in case he were to respond to any future attacks launched by the Jewish state against Damascus, were accompanied by a series of military maneuvers carried out at the borders of the Golan Heights.

In this context, the Israeli army increased the number of troops and promoted the movement of military tanks and jets in a number of regions near the borders with Syria and Lebanon under the pretext of "mounting danger overshadowing the area". The military also filed a complaint with the international forces after two rockets hit the Israeli- occupied Mount Hermon.

This report will shed light on the message delivered to Syrian President Assad on behalf of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu whereby he asserted that his air force will continue attacking Syria. The report will also examine the general situation in Israel amid the regions current developments.

Israel recognizes its failure to withheld the 'S- 300' for Syria

شبكة عاجل الإخبارية

Israeli media means say that the last visit of the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Russia “has failed” in convincing the Russians not to complete the contract of advanced weapons to Syria.

Maariv newspaper says that “Netanyahu has failed to persuade the Russian side not to complete the deal of Russian weapons to Syria, adding that "Russia sees the Syrian regime as a strategic ally." Netanyahu has finished his visit to Russia the day before yesterday after meeting the Russian president Vladimir Putin without revealing the results of the visit. As reports say that one of the most prominent aims of this visit is to convince Russia to hold the contract of sending the developed missiles S-300 to Syria

S-300 possessed by Damascus that exceeds the efficiency of US Patriot missiles

شبكة عاجل الإخبارية

Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reveals that Moscow has handed over a group of S-200 missiles with the launchers to Syrian Arab Army after breaking out the crisis in Syria and that the Syrian experts have finished their trainings on these which missile system is completely under the overseeing and the control of Syrian side without the necessity to be administrated by Russian experts.”

The newspaper quotes of a Syrian military source as saying that the length of S-200 is more than 150 km that is able to hit the goal accurately,” pointing that “Benjamin Netanyahu may hear Russian speech that the Russian Defense Ministry has handed over Damascus missile system S-300 and that it has done, and this system is now in Syrian territory, "the source" hinted that the next step is to move the process of overseeing the management of the system and control to the Syrian military party fully. "

S-300 is the most developed missile around the world which exceeds the efficiency of US Patriot missiles.

#Syria is gathering volunteers for operations in the Golan Heights

Source : Google Translate

The Popular Front "Transformation and the release of Syria," announced a call for volunteers to carry out operations against Israel in the occupied Golan Heights, said in an interview with RIA Novosti the front Deputy Prime Minister of Syria Qadri Jamil.

"We write and form a volunteer fighting units for guerrilla warfare in the Golan," - said Jamil.

He confirmed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave a "green light" to carry out operations against Israel in the Golan Palestinian groups in Syria and said that the Golan will be the front of resistance to Israel.

"With the Palestinians, we will coordinate operations in the Golan," - said Jamil.

Jamil admitted that in the current environment, Syria will not be able to wage war with Israel and symmetrically to answer several airstrikes caused in recent months, the Israeli air force on Syria.

"In recent years, the Golan Heights were not a direct line of confrontation, but Israel in recent weeks and months, air strikes on Syria several times. Truce collapsed almost. Syria is not in a position to fight a war under these conditions. Or to answer the same Israelis - the army against Army. A left unanswered too bad and harmful. Objectively, there is one way out - to enable people to protect their land, as long as the state can not solve this problem, "- said Jamil.

According to him, to resolve the issue of the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel, through negotiation is not possible.

"We as a party and as a front for a long time felt that the issue of the Golan Heights in the current balance of power can not be solved through negotiations. Therefore, to change the balance of power, it is necessary to introduce a new component - the fighting forces that can conduct operations against the enemy. This is our right, and international laws allow us to do it, "- said Jamil.

So urc e: RIA Novo s ti

Russian Pacific Fleet Warships to Enter Mediterranean

Source : RIA Novosti

VLADIVOSTOK, May 13 (RIA Novosti) - A group of warships from Russia’s Pacific Fleet is about to deploy to the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in decades, fleet spokesman RoRman Martov said on Monday.

The group has entered the Red Sea and is preparing to transit the Suez Canal, and should reach the Mediterranean by mid-May, he said.

The group, including the destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, the amphibious warfare ships Peresvet and Admiral Nevelsky, the tanker Pechenga and the salvage/ rescue tug Fotiy Krylov left the port of Vladivostok on March 19 to join Russia’s Mediterranean task force.

The task force currently includes the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk, the frigate Yaroslav Mudry, the salvage/rescue tugs Altai and SB-921 and the tanker Lena from the Northern and Baltic Fleets, as well as the Ropucha-II Class landing ship Azov from the Black Sea Fleet.

The task force may be enlarged to include nuclear submarines, Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Sunday.

The Defense Ministry said in April Russia has begun setting up a naval task force in the Mediterranean, sending several warships from the Pacific Fleet to the region. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in March a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean was needed to defend Russia’s interests in the region.

A senior Defense Ministry official said the Mediterranean task force's command and control agencies will be based either in Novorossiysk, Russia, or in Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the parliamentary defense committee, previously told RIA Novosti that the Mediterranean task force should be comprised of 10 warships and support vessels as part of several tactical groups tasked with attack, antisubmarine warfare and minesweeping.

The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron from 1967 until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy's 6th Fleet during the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels.

‘Saudi Arabia would support Israel in possible Iran strike’

Source :

  TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) – The remarks by the President of Saudi Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies on Saudi backing Israel in case of strike against Iran has taken Israeli circles by surprise.

Al-Alam reported that Oded Granot Israeli Channel 1 Arab world analyst had said an extensive drill has been launched in Persian Gulf with 22 countries participating, among them the US, UK, and all Persian Gulf countries, and Lebanon, with the objective of confronting ‘the axis of evil.’

“The aim is to prepare for a confrontation with Iran,” he added. Demining practices and vessel mobility in Persian Gulf were examined.

The Israeli analyst also pointed to the remarks by the Director of the Center of the Strategic Studies in Jeddah, and quoted him as having said that the drills had a message to Iran and supported Israel’s actions. “The director also said if Israel attacked Syria, Saudi Arabia would take sides with Israel,” the Israeli analyst said.

Israeli Channel 1 also aired the remarks by Anwar Majid Eshki, the President of Saudi Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies on Aljazeera Network. Eshki was quoted to having claimed that the hypothetical enemy was Iran in the drills. Iran is on the eve of elections, and it may intervene in Syria against Israel. “The drills were a sort of ensuring Israel. If Israel attacked Iran, the countries participating in drills would carry out their roles,” Anwar Eshki was quoted to having said.

Oded Granot said that the remarks by Eshki were incredible and no such comments would have been heard before. “In the view of Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf Sheikhdoms, only Israel and the US would protect them against a nuclear Iran,” he added.

SH/MR MNA END

Iran: “New” Hezbollah appears in Syria

شبكة عاجل الإخبارية 

Iran has announced that a “Syrian Public Resistance similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon is being formed in the vicinity of al-Golan the Syrian occupied territory”.

The head of the Iranian General Staff of the Armed Forces Mr. Hasan Firouzabadi assures that “Fortunately and the strategic insight that we witness those day the establishment of public resistance movements Like Hezbollah and the popular committees have been formed in the territory the army liberated from the control of the Syrian Arab mercenaries forces takfirist ".

Abadi says that “the war in Syria has ended and he is no longer the West the opportunity to re-evaluate attitudes toward Syria.”

Palestinian group says preparing to fight for Golan Heights

Source : Al Akhbar English

A Palestinian nationalist organization in Damascus said it is forming combat units to try to reclaim territory occupied by Israel, in particular the Golan Heights, after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah that they would support such operations.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) said it was preparing for new operations after nearly 40 years of quiet on the Israel-Syria border.

The group was most active in the 1970s and 80s but retains influence with Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon.

"The leadership of the PFLP-GC announces that it will form brigades to work on liberating all violated (occupied) territories, first and foremost the occupied Golan," it said in a statement late on Friday.

"The Popular Front's leaders have opened the door to all Syrian citizens to volunteer in the formation of the resistance."

Israel launched a series of air strikes around Damascus last week that inflamed tensions in the region.

Intelligence sources said Israel was trying to take out "game- changing" Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah.

Assad and his father, who ruled for 30 years before him, maintained calm in the Golan despite an official state of war between the two countries and Syria's support for the resistance in Lebanon and Gaza.

But following last week's strikes, which shook the Syrian capital and set its skyline alight with flames, Assad was quoted by state media as saying he would turn the Golan into a "resistance front" and would allow combatants to attack Israel from the area.

Hezbollah, which fought a bloody 34-day war with Israel in 2006 and is believed to coordinate with the PFLP-GC, turned up the rhetoric further by saying it would support any such operations.

"We announce that we stand with the Syrian popular resistance and offer material and spiritual support as well as coordination in order to liberate the Syrian Golan," Hezbollah secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech on Thursday.

The regions bordering the Golan Heights have already collapsed into disarray, with daily battles between state and rebels forces.

The Syrian war, which has killed more than 70,000 people, risks becoming increasingly regionalized, as the country's borders mark the faultlines of several Middle Eastern conflicts.

(Reuters, Al-Akhbar)

Ynet Warns Israeli Leaders against Nasrallah’s Serious Threats

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth demanded that officials in Tel-Aviv should listen carefully to the positions and threats made by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.

The military affairs commentator in the newspaper, Alex Fishman, wrote a long analytical article, in which he harshly criticized the cabinet that approved the decision to carry out air strikes in Syria.

Commenting on the recent positions of Sayyed Nasrallah, the newspaper’s report mentioned that Israel tends to undermine the Arab leaders positions. “Yet it seems that there are exceptional leaders in the Middle East as it’s the case with Sayyed Nasrallah whom we have to listen to carefully if he threatens.” The report also stressed that “Nasrallah fulfills his commitments and threats, and what he says exactly matches with what he does.” The writer pointed that Nassrallah actually repeated the threats that Assad had issued in the aftermath of the Israeli air strikes in Damascus which implied the transformation of the Golan Heights into a popular resistance square. Yet “when Nasrallah and Al-Assad issue the same threats, we have to take the issue more seriously.” Fishman quoted the Israeli army Colonel Ronen Cohen who is the author of “The Rhetoric of Hassan Nasrallah during the Second Lebanon War” book.

“Many of Nasrallah’s speeches are dedicated to propaganda, psychological warfare, and the strategic issues. Yet there are a number of details related to executive and operational issues,” Ronen said.

The writer added that all the threats issued by Nasrallah during 2006 July War used to be implemented within 24 hours, yet the time of peace is more complicated because the threats are not necessarily carried out immediately.

The Israeli officer also told Yedioth Ahronoth that Nasrallah was clear when he stressed that Hezbollah would help the resistance in the Golan Heights, so “we have to check his intentions, whether he implies logistic help, training, or other possibilities.” Nevertheless, Col. Cohen stressed the need to be aware now that “Hezbollah started to set his foot on the Syrian-Zionist borders, exactly as he set its hands and feet in Sinai and Gaza Strip.

Israeli Army fires heavy artillery gunshots towards Lebanon

Source : LBCI News

Israeli Army fired on Thursday at 9:30 am heavy artillery gunshots from the region of Rwaiset al-Alam located on the Israeli side of the border with south Lebanon towards Lebanese towns.

Earlier, an Israeli drone overflew the regions of Hasbaya and Western Bekaa at dawn reportedly for over 3 hours.

It is also worth noting that the Israeli Army carried out, at 8 am, intensive patrols along the border area, between Mtolleh, Wazzani and Al-Ghajar.

Israeli drones have been on a continuous assault of Lebanon's airspace conducting medium to low altitude overflights in the past week.

Lebanese president demands resistance's weapons under army control

Source : Xinhua

BEIRUT, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman stressed Friday the need for the weapons of resistance groups in his country to be under the army's control.

Suleiman said in a statement that "The Baabda Declaration and a defense strategy that places the resistance's arms at the will of the army will protect Lebanon against any Israeli assault."

The Baabda Declaration, approved during a national dialogue session a year ago, calls for Lebanon to disassociate itself from regional conflicts.

Suleiman's remarks came after Lebanese Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday that his movement was "ready to receive any game- changing weapons (from Syria)."

"We're competent to possess and protect such type of weapons and we will use them to defend our people," Nasrallah said.

The response is the result of the recent Israeli attacks on military targets in Syria.

"Israel bombed Syria in order to say that continuing to back the resistance (against Israel) and supply it with military aid will lead to the downfall of the regime," said the Hezbollah chief.

"Israel knows that the source of strength of the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine is Syria, that's why it wants to remove it from the equation and to besiege the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine," he said.

Hezbollah is a staunch ally of the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Syria has long been a conduit for Iranian weapons bound for Hezbollah

Iran’s military keeps 24/7 vigil on threats, ready to react: Top cmdr.

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

A senior Iranian commander says the country’s Armed Forces are keeping a watchful eye on all potential threats, and are ready to counter any moves against the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s military is fully prepared to defend the country, said Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan on Thursday.

“One of the activities of the Armed Forces is to fully monitor threats. We monitor all threats 24/7 and carry out necessary measures through experts and we will counter [threats] if need be,” he said.

After failing to accomplish their geopolitical objectives, hegemonic powers have now come to western Asia and northern Africa with geo-economic goals, said the top commander.

It would be naïve to think that the enemies have only adopted ‘hard war’ tactics in their confrontation against Iran, Pourdastan said, adding that the enemies have changed tack in the region following their failures and put ‘soft war’ on their agenda.

On Sunday, the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces unveiled a new indigenous simulator for the Bell 214 helicopter, presenting the forces’ latest achievement in the simulation field. This came after the forces unveiled a new indigenous T-72 Tank simulator on April 20.

Over the past years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured other nations, especially its neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Israeli jets conduct mock raids over south Lebanon

Source : LBCI News

Zionist military planes carried out on Friday flights and intensive mock raids at a medium altitude over Marjayoun, Elkhyam, el Arkoub, Nabatieh and Iklim elToufah villages in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The report said that the raids and the flights have been taking place since dawn over most regions in the south.

On Thursday the Israeli Army fired at 9:30 am heavy artillery gunshots from the region of Rwaiset al-Alam located on the Israeli side of the border with south Lebanon towards Lebanese towns.

Earlier, an Israeli drone overflew the regions of Hasbaya and Western Bekaa at dawn reportedly for over 3 hours.

Israeli drones have been on a continuous assault of Lebanon's airspace conducting medium to low altitude overflights in the past week.

Arabs willing to make dangerous concessions over Palestine: Hezbollah

Source : The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah slammed Arab states Thursday, saying they were willing to make “dangerous” concessions over the Palestinian cause.

“Arabs today, and I stress today, are more willing to make concessions over the Palestinian cause. Regrettably, this occurring after the Arab Spring,” Nasrallah said.

4 Rockets from Syria Land in Lebanon’s Assi Valley

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Four rockets launched from rian territories hit on ursday the Assi Valley gion in Hermel, North of banon, the state-run tional News Agency ported.

cording to the news ency, the rockets only used material damage. e four rockets landed near e Teachers’ House parallel to the governmental hospital of Hermel.

e from the conflict in neighboring Syria has regularly spilled over into banon, killing two people in the most recent incident on April 14.

ce the Syrian violent unrest erupted in March 2011, there have been merous deadly clashes along the northern and eastern borders of banon.

ere have also been clashes between the Lebanese army and armed oups seeking to prevent the infiltration of fighters into Lebanon.

Syria Allegedly Grants Palestinian Group Green Light To Attack Israel

Source :  International Middle East Media Center

Anwar Raja, told the Associated Press that although the green light has been granted, there has never been an official statement by the Syrian government in this regard.

Furthermore, the official Syrian TV reported that Damascus would not stop any Palestinian armed group from attacking Israel, mainly targets in the occupied Golan Heights.

A Syrian diplomat said that Israel crossed red lights by attacking the Syrian Scientific Research Facility, and a Syrian Air Force brigade. The attacks were not the first of their kind against Syrian targets.

Israeli daily, Haaretz, interviewed a source in the PFLP-GC who said that the recent development is a symbolic move meant to express Syrian support for the Palestinians, and is not a call for war with Tel Aviv; as such a war could ignite the entire region.

The source’s statements came in response to reports published by a major Syrian newspaper claiming that President Bashar Assad and his regime have given a green light to all armed Palestinian groups, stationed in the country, to attack Israel.

The Al-Watan newspaper reported that Syria is still committed to granting Palestinian armed groups in the country with all needed weapons, and even gave them, according to the report, a list of targets in the Golan.

It also said that Syria even deployed army officers near the border, and instructed them to act against any Israeli act of aggression, and that the army also deployed missile launchers that could strike certain targets in Israel, should Israel attack Syria again.

According to Haaretz, the PFLP-GC source said that he does not believe an escalation is about to take place, and that the reported green light is “only a statement meant to sending a message to Tel Aviv that Syria will not allow Israel to attack it.”

The source further stated that Israel sent message to Syria through Russia, informing the Syrian leadership that Tel Aviv wants to reduce tension in the region, and that both Tel Aviv and Damascus want to practice restraint, Haaretz reported.

Sayyed Nasrallah: Syria’s Friends won’t Let It Fall in US, Israel, Takfiri Hands

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah assured tha Syria’s friends in the region and the world will not let it fall in the hand of America, Israel, and Takfiri groups.

In a statement via Al-Manar TV Channel, in which he tackled the latest most significant developments, Sayyed Nasrallah renewed his call fo everyone to find a political dialogue for the Syrian crisis.

He also warned of some sides’ bets on military options, stressing tha this would only extend the war, and called for opting for dialogue unt reaching a political solution.

Golan Heights to become Syrian frontline against Israel

Source : Vesti Kavkaza

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said at a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi that the Golan Heights will become a frontline for resistance against Israeli aggression, RIA Novosti reports.

According to yesterday’s report of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Syria permitted Palestinian resistance to carry out operations against Israel on the Golan Heights, as stated by Syrian MP Sharif Shakhad.

Israel raises its level of alertness following Syrian shelling on Golan

Source : LBCI News

Following the fall of Syrian mortar shells in the Golan Heights, the Israeli army intensified its movements along this bordering region.

The Israeli Northern Command discussed means to deal with this situation, considering that the circumstances have changed after the latest attacks in Syria.

This report will examine the implemented Israeli measures at the Syrian border along with the Israeli complaint raised to the United Nations.

Zionist, Lebanese Army Take Precautionary Measures on Southern Border

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

The Zionist enemy renewed its aerospace operations on Monday over Lebanon’s southern region, with spy drones carrying out circular flights amid upped alert by the occupation soldiers and the Lebanese Army in the area, Al-Manar Website correspondent reported.

In response, Lebanon’s National Army ordered the Precautionary Measure mode in different points adjacent to the Occupied Palestine.

Zionist troops also carried out combing operation using heavy and medium machine guns from their Dahra post on the outskirts of the Abbasiya border town towards the occupied extremities of Ghajar village and the fields surrounding the post, our correspondent added this afternoon.

In the meantime, enemy forces continue their workshop in the newly constructed road near the Wazzani parks, in order to complete fencing the road in the Syrian occupied part of Golan village.

Noting that the Monday Zionist workshop is the only one not covered by the enemy precautionary measures due to non-completion of the fence, which in turn leads to a loophole that the Zionist authorities try to work hard to close it as soon as possible.

Iran Denies Reports Israeli Strikes Targeted Its Arms in Syria

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Top Iranian General Masoud Jazayeri said any arms the Zionist entity targeted in Syria did not come from the Islamic republic.

The Brigadier General denied in remarks published on the Revolutionary Guards website on Monday Western and Israeli media reports that an Iranian weapons depot has been targeted in Syria.

"The Syrian government does not need Iran's military aid, and these sorts of reports are propaganda and psychological war," added the deputy chief of the armed forces.

A senior Israeli source said the Zionist entity carried out an air strike near Damascus before dawn on Sunday.

The attack targeted a facility just northwest of the Syrian capital, very close to the site of a similar attack late in January which was implicitly confirmed by Israel, the source claimed.

Iran's Defence Minister General Ahmad Vahidi on Monday warned against such attacks. "Certainly the Syrian government in an appropriate time will respond to the Zionist regime. The Zionist regime will receive decisive responses from Syria," he added.

Rockets fired from Syria fall in Israel-occupied Golan Heights

Source : The Voice of Russia:

Two rockets fired from Syrian territory exploded inside the Israeli- occupied Golan Heights on Monday, without causing casualties or damage, an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

The rockets exploded in a field near the ceasefire line in the southern Golan, she added

The rocket fire was "apparently connected to the situation inside Syria," she added, suggesting Israel was not targeted but that it was a spillover of fighting between the Syrian regime and rebels.

"The Israeli army combed the sector the rockets fell in and informed the UN forces deployed in the Golan," the spokeswoman said.

The rocket fire came as tensions between the two countries soared after Israeli air raids on targets in the Syrian capital on Sunday.

The Golan has been tense since the beginning of the conflict in Syria more than two years ago.

However, there have been only minor flare-ups in the region to date, as Syrian shells have crashed in the occupied Golan and Israel has fired at the source in retaliation.

Israel, which is technically at war with Syria, has occupied 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights, which it has annexed, since 1967.

The international community never recognised Israel's annexation of the territory.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has been stationed in the Golan since 1974 to oversee a ceasefire.

Voice of Russia, AFP

Syrian FM stresses right to respond to Israeli attack

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem on Monday underlined his country's right to respond to the Israeli attack against the Syrian military sites in the capital Damascus earlier this week, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, al- Moallem stressed "Syria's right to respond to the Israeli criminal aggression in accordance to the international law and the United Nations' charters."

According to SANA, al-Moallem told Lavrov that the Israeli attack "mirrors the nature of goals that link Israel with the armed terrorist groups in Syria."

For his part, Lavrov briefed al-Moallem on efforts exerted by Russia to stop the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East region following the Israeli attack.

Lavrov underlined the importance of concerted efforts to prevent the escalation of the situation and to curb the tension.

In the meantime, Syria's Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar underlined Syria's ability to defend its territories and sovereignty and to deter any aggression at any time.

He stressed that Syria will keep moving ahead to "purge the Syrian soil of the dirt of terrorists and outlaws."

Before dawn on Sunday, Israel launched airstrikes against a number of Syrian army facilities in Damascus, mainly at a military research center in the capital's suburb of Jamraya.

The Syrian government slammed the attack, saying it "opens the door wide for all eventualities."

Yet, no accurate assessment of the damages and casualties has been released yet.

‘Israel used depleted uranium shells in air strike’ – Syrian source

Source : SouthWeb Org

“When the explosion happened it felt like an earthquake,” said the source, who was present near the attack site on the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday morning.

“Then a giant golden mushroom of fire appeared. This tells us that Israel used depleted uranium shells.”

Depleted uranium is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process that creates nuclear weapons, and was first used by the US in the Gulf conflict of 1991. Unlike the radioactive materials used in nuclear weapons, depleted uranium is not valued for its explosiveness, but for its toughness – it is 2.5 times as dense as steel – which allows it to penetrate heavy protection.

Countries using depleted uranium weapons insist that the material is toxic, but not dangerously radioactive, as long as it remains outside the body.

The source also claims the attack – if it managed to hit the objects it targeted – served more of a political than a military purpose.

“Several civilian factories and buildings were destroyed. The target was just an ordinary weapons warehouse. The bombing is an ultimatum to us – it had no strategic motivation.”

Western intelligence sources told the media that the strikes targeted transfers of weapons from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which is sympathetic to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The official who spoke to RT denies this.

“There was no valuable equipment at the site. It was all removed after a previous attack on the facility. The military losses from this are negligible.”

Syria pinpoints targets in Israel to hit in case of further attacks

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army has pinpointed targets inside Israel to strike in case of further Israeli attacks against Syria, the state TV said Sunday.

The marked targets would be hit if Israel attacked Syria again, the TV quoted some officials as saying, adding that the Syrian troops have been told to respond to any attack without waiting orders from the supreme command.

"The Syrian missiles are ready to hit specific targets in case of any new breaches," the TV said.

Meanwhile, the TV said Syria has given the green light for the Palestinians to "act against Israel" from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli air force fired rockets toward a military research facility north of Damascus. The powerful blasts sent plumes of smoke into the sky.

The strike came 48 hours after Israeli aircraft allegedly struck a consignment of Iranian missiles bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah militia.

The target of Sunday's attack was reportedly the Jamraya military research center, which Israel is said to have struck in late January.

Syria deploys missile defense batteries toward Israel: report

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Syria has deployed missile defense batteries toward Israel in response to the Israeli attack that targeted a Syrian army facility in the capital Damascus earlier Sunday, security sources said.

The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited security sources as saying that Syria will also provide the Lebanese Hezbollah with "new qualitative weaponry."

A statement issued after an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday said that Israel's attack "opens the door widely before all eventualities."

"Syria will not accept its sovereignty to be infringed upon either at home or abroad," the statement said, warning that those who mess with the sovereignty of Syria must carefully study their options and shoulder the responsibility.

The Sunday air attack was the second Israeli one targeting the same military scientific research center in the area of Jamraya, northwest of Damascus after one in January. Israel said then that it was targeting a weapons convoy on its way to Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, a main ally to Syria.

After Sunday's attack, Western reports cited intelligence sources as saying that the attack targeted a shipment of advanced Iranian-made weapons, including Fateh-110 missiles, heading to Hezbollah.

The Israeli administration has previously warned that it will not allow the Syrian government to give sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah.

However, Syria's state media charged that Israel targeted Damascus to give a boost to rebels after their recent frustrations.

Syria's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the airstrike is an indication to the coordination between Israel and the radical groups affiliated with the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

Editor: Mu Xuequa

Syria Will Defend Itself By Any Means Necessary - Minister

Source : RIA Novosti

BEIRUT, May 5 (RIA Novosti) – Syria reserves the right to defend itself by all possible methods, the country’s deputy foreign minister said on Sunday, in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on the capital, Damascus.

Israel carried out late on Saturday and early on Sunday what an intelligence official said were airstrikes on a shipment of Iranian- made missiles bound for Hezbollah militants in neighboring Lebanon.

“Syria will not allow to this to take place again,” Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad told Lebanon’s Al-Manar TV station, which is affiliated with Hezbollah.

“We have the right to defend our people and our interests by any possible methods,” he added.

Syria condemned on Sunday Israel over the airstrikes, saying the attacks aim "to give direct military support terrorist groups" fighting the government, the Associated Press reported.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry also said Sunday in a letter sent to th United Nations and the U.N. Security Council that the "Israeli aggression" had killed and wounded several people and "caused widespread destruction."

Report: Israel Using Depleted Uranium in Missile Attacks on Damascus

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Sources disclosed on Sunday that Israel has used depleted uranium in its recent missile attacks on a suburban Damascus area.

The first missile which hit Jamraya near al-Haviyeh in Reef (outskirts of) Damascus contained uranium substances, a correspondent of the Russian TV quoted some local sources as saying.

Other media outlets had also earlier released similar reports on Israel's use of radioactive materials in attacks on Syria.

Explosions shook Damascus early on Sunday and Syrian state television said Israeli rockets had struck a military research center on the outskirts of the capital.

The blasts occurred a day after an Israeli official said Tel Aviv had carried out an air strike targeting a consignment of missiles in Syria. The research center hit on Sunday was also targeted by Israel in January.

"The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army," Syrian television said, referring to recent offensives by President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials on Sunday's explosions.

Late in January, the Syrian Army said in a statement that two people were killed and five others injured in an Israeli air strike on a scientific center in Jamraya, 25 kilometers (15 miles) Northwest of the capital Damascus.

Israel source: Israel behind Syria strike on Iran missiles

Source : Maan News Agency

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel carried out an air strike near Damascus airport overnight, targeting Iranian missiles destined for Hezbollah, a senior Israeli source said Sunday.

"The attack was very close to the airport, the target was Iranian missiles which were destined for Hezbollah," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Syria Blames Israel For Missile Strike on Military Facility

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, May 5 (RIA Novosti) – Israel carried out early on Sunday a missile attack on a military research center outside the Syrian capital, Damascus, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported.

Syrian state television has broadcast video footage showing a series of large explosions around the Jamraya research center, which is located about 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the Lebanese border.

"Initial reports point to these explosions being a result of Israeli missiles that targeted the research center in Jamraya,” SANA said.

The Jamraya facility was a target of an Israeli airstrike on Syria in January. Syria protested that attack in the United Nations and warned that the internal conflict is spilling over the borders, threatening security in the region.

Israeli officials have so far refused to comment on allegations of the Sunday strike, which, if confirmed, would be the second Israeli attack on Syria in the last three days.

An airstrike on Friday reportedly hit a warehouse near Damascus international airport, where a shipment of weapons for the Lebanese Hezbollah militia has allegedly been held.

Top Israeli officials have repeatedly expressed their concern that sophisticated weapons from the Syrian stockpiles may end up in the hands of Hezbollah, a relentless foe of the Israeli state.

The Syrian conflict, which started in March 2011 with peaceful protests demanding reforms, has gradually turned into a civil war in response to the government’s military crackdown on the protesters.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations, and the death toll is growing every day as the fierce fighting between government troops and rebels continues

In addition, the UN Refugee Agency estimates the number of persons displaced by the conflict at 1.3 million people, with almost 1.1 million officially registered and some 250,000 awaiting registration.