Liberman cops to attacking Syria to thwart Hezbollah

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman admits that Israel is responsible for recent attacks in Syria, saying they were meant to “prevent the smuggling of advanced weapons, military equipment and weapons of mass destruction from Syria to Hezbollah.”

Speaking to representatives from the European Union, Liberman does not specify what incident or incidents he is referring to.

On Wednesday morning, a bombing near a Damascus military airport was blamed on Israel. Last week, Israeli planes reportedly struck both a weapons site near the Syrian capital and a Hezbollah weapons convoy.

Israel generally does not officially admit to carrying out attacks deep inside Syria, though it has maintained it will not allow advanced weapons to be transfered to Hezbollah.

The defense minister also insists that Israel is not interested in getting involved in the Syrian civil war, but will work to defend its citizens and its sovereignty.

“When I am asked, time after time, what a possible future agreement with Syria will be like, I say that my position is that regardless of what agreement will be in Syria — the Iranians and [Syrian President Bashar] Assad have to be out of Syria and not be a part of any deal,” Liberman says.

— Judah Ari Gross