Syria on Thursday deemed Israeli threats against Damascus as missing credibility and warned against exacerbating the already deteriorated situation in the Middle East.
"Launching the preemptive threats against Syria is lacking the minimum degree of credibility and evidence from any side; and it will increase the already aggravated situation in the region from the other side," Syria's Foreign Minister Farouq Shara was quoted as saying by SANA.
Shara’s remarks came during his meeting with Japan’s Special Peace Envoy to the Middle East Tatsu Arima and the accompanying delegation.
Earlier in the day, Israel threatened to carry out a military attack against Syria, accusing it of being directly involved in Tuesday's suicide bombing attack in the southern city of Beer Sheba, which killed 16 Israelis and wounded more than 100.
Israel's deputy defense minister Zeev Boim on Thursday hinted that a strike on Syrian targets could be imminent. "The rule that 'anyone who deals in terror against Israel is a target' is a rule that must be stated and one that we must stand behind," Boim told Israel Radio.
"It is possible to launch operations, provided that the targets are well chosen and that the moment is right, in order to make the Syrians understand that there are red lines that cannot be crossed," he added. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)