The United States on Thursday warned Syria not to try to send missiles to Hizbullah in Lebanon, a day after Israel’s undeclared bombing of a convoy of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles that could bring down Israeli Air Force jets.
Significantly, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes omitted any mention of Israel, but United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon filled the gap with another broadside at Israel’s right to defend itself.
Rhodes said, “Syria should not further destabilize the region by transferring weaponry to Hizbullah.”
On the other hand, Ban’s office issued statement stating “grave concern reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria.”
He didn’t point any fingers at the Assad regime or its terrorist ally Hizbullah, which has been on the receiving end of advanced weapons from Syria. Ban settled for a call on “all concerned to prevent tensions or their escalation … and to strictly abide by international law, in particular in respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region.”
Hizbullah, which controls large parts of Lebanon and is Syria’s proxy in the country, “expressed its full solidarity with Syria’s leadership, army and people.”