by Daniel Siryoti, Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff
Syrian website reports that Israeli planes hit Syrian military base over the weekend, destroying surface-to-air defense missiles • Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman: We have no plans beyond maintaining peace and quiet in the north, but don't test us.
Defense Minister Avigdor
Lieberman with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot at GOC Northern
Command headquarters on Tuesday
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Photo credit: Ariel Hermoni / Defense Ministry  |
The Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike
over the weekend against a military installation south of Homs,
according to a report Tuesday by the Syrian website Zaman Al Wasl, which
identifies with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The report
said the installation is a base for the Syrian army's air defense
division and is also the location of its air-defense training school.
The Israeli planes bombed storage warehouses
for Syrian surface-to-air defense missiles, destroying a considerable
number and causing a great deal of damage, the report said. It also said
the Israeli planes avoided targeting other air-defense systems located
on the base.
The planes reportedly flew at a low altitude,
likely to avoid being detected by radar, and were exposed to being hit
by Syrian air-defense systems. According to the report, the Syrian
defense establishment chose not to respond to the attack and did not try
to shoot the Israeli jets down.
Aside from the report by Zaman Al Wasl, no other sources in Syria or Arab media outlets reported the event.
On Tuesday, meanwhile, newly appointed Defense
Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited GOC Northern Command headquarters,
accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot. It was
Lieberman's first official visit to the field since entering office on May 30.
The defense minister was briefed on his tour
by Eizenkot, GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, Commander of
IDF Military Colleges and the Northern Corps Maj. Gen. Tamir Heiman,
Commander of the General Staff Corps Maj. Gen. Yossi Bachar, and other
sector commanders.
Following the visit, Lieberman said, "Today I
heard briefings about this area, which is always a sensitive area. I can
say that our northern border is in good, secure hands."
He said he was "impressed with the army's
preparations, planning and readiness. The IDF's job is to keep the
northern border safe and calm, and that is what we are doing and will
continue to do."
According to Lieberman, "We have no other
plans beyond maintaining the peace and quiet, and I hope everyone
understands this very well -- including our neighbors. In any case, I
don't advise anyone to test us."
Later in the day, Lieberman and Deputy Defense Minister
Eli Ben-Dahan met with Judea and Samaria regional council heads.
Lieberman's office issued a statement that he would work to provide
residents security and normal lives.
Daniel Siryoti, Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=34225
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