Iran’s Foreign Ministry slammed Israel for allegedly launching an air strike against Syria, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. “Repeated acts of aggression by the Israeli regime against Syria violate this country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is in breach of international norms,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said. “There is no doubt such attacks are aimed at weakening the legitimate government of Syria… and is against international peace and security.” He also called on the United Nations to make sure such attacks are not repeated.
Comment: On Thursday morning, several explosions destroyed alleged arms depot near the Damascus airport that Israeli media outlets said were housing Iranian weapons destined for the Lebanese Hezbollah. The Israeli government did not confirm or deny it, but the Syrian government and Syrian opposition officials attributed the attack to Israel.
Israel has targeted Hezbollah commanders and advanced weaponry in Syria on several occasions in the past. Such attacks may increase in the future as Iranian-controlled militias and Hezbollah are trying to establish their presence in southwestern Syria close to Israel.
But the latest attack has caused concern in Tehran that it could be the beginning of a larger offensive against the Bashar al-Assad regime by a U.S. led coalition that will include Israel and Arab countries. Latest increased U.S. military activities along the Syrian-Jordanian border have also added to Iranian worries.
“There are increased activities in southern Syria that indicate preparations for an attack through Jordan and Israel and [with the help of] armed groups,” wrote Tabnak News Agency, an outlet affiliated with former Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) commander Mohsen Rezaei. Unconfirmed reports in the Iranian media also say that Tehran has offered to deploy ground troops to Syria to help Damascus against a potential intervention by the U.S.-led coalition in cooperation with anti-regime rebel forces.
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-for-profit, educational organization. It does not engage in advocacy and its scholars’ opinions are their own. MEI welcomes financial donations, but retains sole editorial control over its work and its publications reflect only the authors’ views. For a listing of MEI donors, please click here.