Syria deploys missile defense batteries toward Israel

Syria has deployed missile defense batteries toward Israel in response to the Israeli attack that targeted a Syrian army facility in the capital Damascus earlier Sunday, security sources said. The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited security sources as saying that Syria will also provide the Lebanese Hezbollah with "new qualitative weaponry." A statement issued after an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday said that Israel's attack "opens the door widely before all eventualities." "Syria will not accept its sovereignty to be infringed upon either at home or abroad," the statement said, warning that those who mess with the sovereignty of Syria must carefully study their options and shoulder the responsibility. The Sunday air attack was the second Israeli one targeting the same military scientific research center in the area of Jamraya, northwest of Damascus after one in January. Israel said then that it was targeting a weapons convoy on its way to Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, a main ally to Syria. After Sunday's attack, Western reports cited intelligence sources as saying that the attack targeted a shipment of advanced Iranian-made weapons, including Fateh-110 missiles, heading to Hezbollah. The Israeli administration has previously warned that it will not allow the Syrian government to give sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah. However, Syria's state media charged that Israel targeted Damascus to give a boost to rebels after their recent frustrations. Syria's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the airstrike is an indication to the coordination between Israel and the radical groups affiliated with the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.