Syria denies Israel targeted missile convoy on way to Lebanon

In a letter sent to UN Security Council, Syria rejected statements made by U.S. officials, claiming Israel had struck a research center and not a convoy carrying anti-aircraft missiles to Hezbollah.

 

Syria‘s UN ambassador says there is “no truth” to reports that an Israeli airstrike last week, which seriously damaged a scientific research center, had targeted a convoy heading to neighboring Lebanon.

Israeli F-15 jets

Israeli F-15 jet – Photo by AP

International media reported on July 31 that Israel launched an overnight air strike on Syria-Lebanon border.

Syrian state television said the attack targeted a research center near the capital Damascus, and later aired video footage purporting to show the site of the alleged Israeli strike.

In identical letters to the UN secretary-general and the Security Council, circulated Thursday, Syria’s ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari said that Israeli aircraft flying at low altitude headed to the research center and bombed it, killing two employees and injuring five others.

However, according to U.S. officials, Israel targeted a military research center and a convoy next to it carrying anti-aircraft weapons destined for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has all but officially confirmed it was behind the air strike. On Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told German reporters that the incident is proof that when “we say something, we mean it,” and later added: “we don’t think it should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into Lebanon.”

 

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/syria-denies-israeli-strike-targeted-weapons-convoy-heading-to-lebanon-1.502188