Netanyahu: Israel to Exert Utmost Effort to Prevent Delivery of Advanced Arms to Hizbullah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday stressed that Israel will “exert utmost effort” to prevent the delivery of “advanced arms” to Hizbullah from Syria.
“Israel will continue to exert utmost effort to present the delivery of advances arms to Hizbullah, Hamas and other terrorist groups,” Netanyahu said in a speech at the Israeli Knesset.
“We are witnessing the abhorrent acts of killing in Syria and anxiously following the reports about the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime,” he added.
Paris has stated there was "no doubt" that the regime in the war-torn country had used deadly sarin gas. Not long after his comments, Britain said that its own samples brought back from Syria had tested positive for sarin gas as the U.S. said more evidence is needed before concluding that sarin has been used.
Reports that chemical weapons have been used come after Syria's army, backed by elite Hizbullah fighters, ousted rebels from the strategic town of Qusayr after a 17-day assault.
“Today, Israel is stronger than ever and we're working firmly and unwaveringly to defend ourselves, and when the need arises, we will firmly and unwaveringly defend ourselves,” Netanyahu said.
He noted that “there are tens of thousands of rockets that are pointed at the Israeli cities,” adding that Israel “can address that on the defensive and offensive levels.”
The strategic town of Qusayr is located on the road linking Damascus with the regime's stronghold on Syria's coast and it is a key route for the transportation of weapons into Lebanon.
Two air raids in Syria by Israeli warplanes last month destroyed missiles allegedly destined for Hizbullah. The attacks have sparked fears that the party could hit back.
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