SYRIA WARNS ISRAEL OF AIRSTRIKE REPERCUSSIONS

       Damascus, 21 Rabiul Awwal 1434/ 2 February 2013 (MINA) – Syria warns Israel and, what it refers to as, Tel Aviv’s protectors at the UN Security Council of repercussions following the Israeli regime’s airstrike on its military research center.

       Israel and those who protect it at the Security Council are fully responsible for the repercussions of this aggression,” Syria’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

       In the letter, Syria also stressed its “right to defend itself, its territory and sovereignty,” according to PressTV report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) Saturday.

      According to a Syrian Army statement, Israeli fighter jets violated Syrian airspace in the early hours of Wednesday and carried out a direct strike on a scientific research center in Jamraya. 
       Two people were killed and five others injured in the raid, which came after several failed attempts made by terrorist groups in the past months to take control of the site.

       Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul Karim Ali said also on Thursday that his country had the option to respond to the Israeli strike.

       He said Damascus was likely to take “a surprise decision to respond to the aggression of the Israeli warplanes.”
       “Syria is engaged in defending its sovereignty and its land,” the ambassador said.
        A statement from Ban’s press office said “The Secretary-General notes with grave concern reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria.”

        It called on the parties concerned to “prevent tensions or their escalation in the region…”

        Damascus condemned the attack as a violation of a 1974 disengagement accord that followed the last major war between the Arab country and the Israeli regime. (T/P01/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)