Syria Reports Renewed Israeli Airstrikes
JERUSALEM — Israeli warplanes struck at least two areas near Damascus on Sunday, the Syrian Armed Forces General Command said in a statement, apparently ending a monthslong hiatus in strikes attributed to Israel against sophisticated weaponry destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli officials refused to confirm or deny the latest reports from Syria, maintaining a policy of ambiguity that is meant to allow the other side to save face and to stave off retaliation.
But in broadcast remarks before the weekly cabinet meeting earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel pledged to continue to deal with regional threats, which some Israeli analysts read with hindsight as a hint of what was to come hours later.
“We are closely monitoring the Middle East and what is happening with open eyes and ears, and a lot is happening,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “We will stay informed and we will deal with these threats and challenges, which are not taking a timeout. We will deal with them with the same responsibility that we have up until now.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/08/world/middleeast/syria-reports-renewed-israeli-airstrikes.html
