MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Syria has the right to strike Israel in case of any possible Israeli attacks in the future, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday citing Ahmad Shalash, a member of the Syrian parliament.
“Next time, if Israel dares to breach the Syrian airspace, next time, there are orders to retaliate with fire and missiles without referring back to the leadership,” Shalash was quoted as saying by Al Arabiya.
Israel is widely believed to have carried out several airstrikes on Syria in early May, though it has not officially confirmed that it did so. Reuters reported, citing unnamed Western intelligence sources that the airstrikes targeted a shipment of Iranian-made Fateh-110 guided missiles believed to be on their way to Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the Israeli attack targeted a research facility near the capital Damascus.
“Let it all out, they want an open war, let it be an open war, we don’t have a problem,” Shalash added.
Shalash’s words come after last week’s statement by President Bashar Assad, who said that Syria “will respond in kind” to any future Israeli airstrike on its territory.
Assad said there was "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights but such a move would require serious political, social and military deliberation.
