WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) – The US government is cautious in its comments on Israel’s military actions in Syria. “We recognize, of course, that Israel lives in a difficult neighborhood and – as always – has the right to defend itself,” said US National Security Council communications director John Kirby. But they don’t want “any actor to act in a way that makes it more difficult for the Syrian people to establish a legitimate government.”
After the overthrow of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and the takeover of power by rebels, Israel moved its armed forces into the buffer zone of the occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli army denied media reports that Israeli tanks were approaching the Syrian capital Damascus.
In hundreds of strikes, Israel’s air force has already destroyed most of the Syrian army’s land forces. According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Syrian navy was also sunk. Israeli attacks are also said to have targeted suspected chemical weapons as well as research and production sites for such weapons. The Israeli army did not comment on this when asked. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had authorized attacks on “strategic military facilities.”
Concern about the use of chemical weapons
According to Kirby, there is concern in Washington about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. “Many different rebel and opposition groups are currently involved, so we also have concerns about the existence and possible use of chemical warfare agents in Syria,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US Air Force says it has carried out several dozen strikes against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia in Syria. “You can expect this type of activity to continue,” Kirby explained. They don’t want to give IS the opportunity to exploit the situation in the country for their own benefit./gei/DP/nas