According to PM Netanyahu, Iran is seeking an escalation in the area by ordering Syria to provide Hezbollah with advanced weapons.
Netanyahu affirms that Israel will do all in its power to stop this transfer of weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports in the media on Monday of alleged Israeli forces operating in Syria.
Netanyahu addressing the Knesset – Photo: Emil Salman
“Any talk of undercover Israeli forces operating in Syria is nonsense,” Netanyahu said.
According to the prime minister, “Syria is in the midst of a long process of breaking apart that is seeping into our area. In fact, Iran is propping up Assad’s regime and it is they who have instructed Hezbollah to enter active combat in Syria. Iran is providing Assad with money, resources, and advisors. For 40 years the Syrian border had been peaceful, but this might be changing before our very eyes.”
Netanyahu asked the members of the Knesset not to leak to the press his comments regarding the arrangements that were reached with respect to the transfer of S-300 missile systems from Russia to Syria
“Syria decided to provide the Hezbollah with advanced lethal weapons,” he said. “The weapons in question are of high quality and in a larger quantity than Syria had handed over up to this point. The transfer of arms can be sourced to an Iranian decision, with Assad carrying it out. The transfer of these weapons is sufficient to tip the balance of power to the point that we may have to change our security policy.”
According to Netanyahu, “Israel will do all that it can to prevent the transfer of these weapons to the Hezbollah.”
View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-dismisses-rumors-of-israeli-forces-operating-in-syria-as-nonsense-1.528973
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