Iran and Syria are threatening retaliation against Israel for an airstrike that landed inside Syria’s borders.
US officials have reported that Israel launched an airstrike inside Syria on Wednesday. They targeted a convoy that was believed to be carrying anti-aircraft weapons for Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is a powerful Lebanese militant group recognized by many as a terrorist organization. They are aligned with Syria and Iran.
Fox News reports that Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul-Karim Ali stated on Thursday that Damascus “has the option and the capacity to surprise in retaliation.”
Abdul-Karim Ali added that he cannot predict when Damascus could retaliate. Instead, it is up to the relevant authorities to prepare and execute the retaliation.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, stated that the “strike on Syria will have serious consequences for Tel Aviv.” The comments by both Iran and Syria make it clear that the countries may retaliate against Israel for the air strike.
CNN notes that Abdollahian had earlier warned that any attack on Syria was an attack on Iran. A US official stated that the Israel airstrike hit the convoy.
Syria’s military countered the convoy report. Instead, the country’s state-run media claimed that Israel struck a defense research facility near Damascus. They further stated that the strike killed two workers and injured five more.
The report also highlights the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has ravaged the country for almost two years. Experts have said that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is faltering. A high-ranking Israeli Intelligence official has said that Hezbollah is trying to get all the weapons it can through Syria while al-Assad is still in charge.
Israel believes that the missiles the convoy was carrying would have been used to attack them. there is not word on when or if Iran and Syria will retaliate against Israel.