Israeli Defense Minister: Israel will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria
Israel will not allow Iran to establish itself in a military manner in Syria, said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, The Times of Israel reports.
The head of the defense department did not confirm or deny the claims that the Israeli Air Force was behind the airstrike on the T-4 airbase in Syria’s Homs province.
“I don’t know what happened, who attacked the T-4,” Lieberman said, “I know only one thing: we will not allow Iran to establish itself in Syria. We have no other choice.”
“To agree to let Iran entrench itself in Syria would be to put a noose around our neck, and we cannot allow this,” the minister added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed that the Hebrew state will not tolerate a permanent Iranian military presence in Syria.
A massive missile strike was made on April 9 against the T-4 airbase in Syria’s Homs province. Syrian news agency SANA reported that people had been killed in the attack.
Syria holds Israel responsible for the strike. According to a source in the Syrian command, an Israeli F-15 fighter jet fired several missiles at the target from Lebanese airspace.