(McClatchy) Sheera Frenkel - The anti-aircraft missiles that were the target of an Israeli airstrike on Syria this week were on a military base outside Damascus when they were destroyed, two Israeli intelligence officials said Thursday. The base is less than five miles from the Lebanese border. Waiting until the missiles had reached the main Beirut-Damascus highway risked civilian casualties, one said. "What is important is that a convoy carrying weapons which would have been very dangerous for Israel was taken out before it could reach its destination in Lebanon." "Weapons systems that make our air force vulnerable will not be allowed to fall into the hands of terrorist groups," an Israeli official said.
2013-02-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive