Defense Minister (Likud) Moshe Ya’alon announced that if and when Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad crosses Israel’s three red lines, Israel will act. Ya’alon defined these red lines as follows;

1. Providing advanced weapons to Hizbullah or other organization

2. The transfer of chemical weapons

3. Failing to maintain quiet on Israel’s Golan Heights border

Ya’alon has state repeatedly that Israel has no interest in becoming involved in the Syrian civil war, but it will not hesitate to act if and when Israel’s security interests are compromised. Ya’alon added that spill over from the fighting in the Golan Heights will not be tolerated and such events will be met with a military response.

He explains that as has been seen in recent week, the IDF will seek to take out the army position from which cross-border gunfire originates.

The senior minister added that he is unimpressed with Assad’s victory in Qunair and he does not view that as a “turning point”, adding he does not believe Assad has the momentum to emerge victorious.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)