by Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hersch, Daniel Siryoti, David Baron, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Iran's breach of Israeli airspace was "an egregious and unprompted escalation," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley says
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley
Photo: AP
U.S. Ambassador to
the U.N. Nikki Haley warned Wednesday that Iran's piloting of a drone
into Israeli airspace on Saturday must serve as a "wake-up call to the
world" regarding the Islamic republic's efforts to cement its presence
in Syria.
Saturday's incident ratcheted up tensions on the Israel-Syria border. The Iranian drone was intercepted
by Israeli air defenses, but a retaliatory strike on Iranian assets in
Syria saw anti-aircraft fire down an Israeli fighter jet as it was
returning from its mission.
Addressing a U.N. Security Council briefing
that focused on the situation in Syria and Saturday's incident, Haley
lambasted Iran's breach of Israeli airspace.
"Earlier this week, Iranian-backed militias
in southern Syria launched a drone into Israeli territory. It was an
egregious and unprompted escalation. The drone flight this week is a
wake-up call for all of us. Iran and Hezbollah are making plans to stay
in Syria," she said.
"Iran was once again doing what it does –
risking conflict and testing the will of its neighbors and opponents to
resist its aggression. Israel rightly took action to defend itself. The
United States will always stand by our ally when confronted with
provocations from Iran, Hezbollah, or the Assad regime."
Haley went on to stress that the incident
"shines a spotlight on the reality in Syria today. We are seeing actors
engage in a dangerous game of pushing boundaries, instead of behaving
responsibly and committing to peace.
"The Assad regime has become a front for
Iran, Hezbollah, and their allies to advance the irresponsible and
dangerous agenda for the Middle East. On every front of this conflict
[in Syria], we find fighters imported by Iran from Lebanon, Iraq, and
Afghanistan. When we see the Assad regime starving civilians in eastern
Ghouta or pummeling schools and hospitals in Idlib, we see advisers from
Iran and Hezbollah helping direct those atrocities," Haley said.
She further warned that Iran's presence in
Syria prevents the possibility of brokering an end to the nearly
seven-year-long civil war.
"It's hard to see how a peace process
will work while the Assad regime continues to launch all-out attacks
against the Syrian people, and Iran and Hezbollah are entrenching
themselves inside the country."
Ahead of the meeting, Israeli Ambassador to
the United Nations Danny Danon said that the Security Council should
condemn Iran's aggression and put an end to Tehran's provocation in the
region.
"The Security Council cannot stand idly by
as Iran repeatedly violates U.N. resolutions and pursues actions that
could lead to a dangerous escalation," he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday also expressed concern over Saturday's incident.
During a visit to Jordan, Tillerson said
Iran should withdraw its forces and militias from Syria, where Tehran
backs President Bashar Assad.
Responding to the comments, a senior
Iranian official, Ali Akbar Velayati, said Iran's military presence in
Syria was legitimate and based on an invitation from Damascus. He called
on U.S. forces to leave Syria.
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/02/15/us-envoy-iranian-drone-incursion-into-israel-wake-up-call-to-the-world/
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