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Syria, Iran 'not in Israel's sights' 'at this present moment'
ISRAEL has no plans "at this present moment" to attack Iran and Syria, the country's chief spokesman told US television today, although he charged both countries with playing a key role in recent kidnappings of its soldiers. "There is full responsibility on the shoulders of Iran and Syria," spokesman Isaac Herzog told ABC television's This Week program, without ruling out future attacks against the two countries."The responsibility lies on them, and we know it and we will remember it," Mr Herzog said. "Nonetheless at this present moment we are focused on Lebanon." He made his remarks as the Israeli army confirmed today that its special forces were operating on the ground in Lebanon, in conjunction with air and sea forces, on the fifth day of its offensive aimed at crippling the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Israel has accused Iran and Syria of having deep influence over the Hezbollah militants who captured two Israeli soldiers in an attack that sparked Israeli military retaliation. But Mr Herzog stressed that Syria is not currently in Israel's sights. "We made it clear that we are not including Syria in this campaign out of our own volition," Mr Herzog said. "We are focused on Lebanon. We want the Lebanese body politic, the Lebanese government which includes Hezbollah as one of its coalition partners, to take forceful steps to confront the Hezbollah and to make sure that this mode of behaviour does not reoccur, namely that Lebanon really takes sovereignty over its affairs." He also insisted that Israeli forces are doing their best to avoid civilian targets in Lebanon, while conceding that "tragic circumstances" have occurred involving innocents. "We are very restrained," Mr Herzog said. Posted by: tipper 2006-07-16 |
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