Syria complains to UN over Israeli raid
February 1, 2013, 9:41 am

Israeli soldiers guard on the Israeli side of the Syria-Lebanon border. [Xinhua]

Although the Israeli Defence Ministry issued no statement on the attack, US intelligence experts have told the media that the air raid targeted a convoy carrying weapons to Lebanon.

The Syrian military vehemently denied the target saying instead that the IAF fired on a military research center in Jamraya, rural Damascus, causing material damage to a building, killing two workers and injuring five more

Syrian media said that Damascus summoned the head of the UN force in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to deliver the complaint.

“Syria holds Israel and those who protect it in the Security Council fully responsible for the results of this aggression and affirms its right to defend itself, its land and sovereignty,” Syrian television said.

Syrian officials say the Israeli attack is a violation of a 1974 military disengagement agreement following the end of the 1973 October War, also known as the Yom Kippur War.

On Thursday, UN Secretary-General urged all parties in Syria, in addition to Israel, to avoid escalating the crisis.

“The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to prevent tensions or their escalation in the region, and to strictly abide by international law, in particular in respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region.”

“The Secretary-General notes with grave concern reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria. At this time, the United Nations does not have details of the reported incident. Nor is the United Nations in a position to independently verify what has occurred,” said a statement from the UN chief’s office.

International condemnation

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s “brutal aggression” against Syria.

“There is no doubt that this aggression is part of a Western and Zionist strategy to push aside the success of the Syrian people and government to return to stability and security,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in a statement.

For its part, Russia called Israel’s attack military interference and said it was concerned about an escalation in the region.

“If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Egypt led the Arab League in also condemning the Israeli attack on Syrian territory.

Source: Agencies