F16 fighter jet as used by the IDF. Photograph by Peter Mulligan
Israel has confirmed that they launched an airstrike targeting a shipments of advanced missiles allegedly bound for militants from Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister has made repeated warnings in recent weeks that Israel would be prepared to take military cation if chemical weapons or other arms were seen to be falling into the hands of Hezbollah, the Lebanese military group that is vehemently anti-Israel and is reportedly supporting Assad’s military within Syria.
The advanced missile technology allegedly bound for Hezbollah, would likely have come from Iran, with Israeli officials describing them as “game changing”, although details about technologies involved is sparse.
The strike occurred on Thursday night at the same time that Israel was flying many military aircraft over Lebanon, although US officials have said that they did not believe that any Israeli aircraft entered Syrian airspace.
This is the second time that Israel has launched an airstrike against targets in Syria this year, previously targeting a convoy of trucks allegedly carrying anti-aircraft weaponry en route to Hezbollah fighters in January.
This airstrike comes as the US are increasingly looking at military options in Syria, with enforcing a no-fly zone popular in some corners, following a similar path to intervention in Libya. President Obama has said he has not ruled out any options, but recently noted that he does “not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria”.
