Israel strikes suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria

JERUSALEM – Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons websites and long-range rockets in Syria in an effort to stop them from falling into the arms of hostile actors, the overseas minister mentioned Monday.

Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad’s authorities following almost 14 years of civil conflict, elevating hopes for a extra peaceable future but additionally issues a few potential safety vacuum within the nation, which continues to be break up amongst armed teams.

Israelis have welcomed the autumn of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, whereas expressing concern over what comes subsequent. Israel says its forces briefly seized a buffer zone inside Syria relationship again to a 1974 settlement after Syrian troops withdrew within the chaos.

“The one curiosity we have now is the safety of Israel and its residents,” Gideon Saar informed reporters on Monday. “That’s why we attacked strategic weapons methods, like, for instance, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets, so that they won’t fall within the arms of extremists.”

Saar didn’t present particulars about when or the place the strikes came about.

An Related Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes within the space of the Mezzeh army airport, southwest of the capital, on Sunday. The airport has beforehand been focused in Israeli airstrikes, nevertheless it was not instantly clear who launched the newest strike.

Israel has carried out a whole lot of airstrikes in Syria in recent times, concentrating on what it says are army websites associated to Iran and Hezbollah. Israeli officers hardly ever touch upon particular person strikes.

Syria agreed to surrender its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the federal government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people. However it’s broadly believed to have saved a few of the weapons and was accused of utilizing them once more in subsequent years.