Syria hit after Israel retaliates
Israel’s armed forces on Sunday attacked an Islamic Jihad training camp inside Syria.
Palestinian sources in Beirut said Israeli warplanes undertook the attack near the Syrian capital.
The raid was swift retaliation for the suicide bombing on Saturday that killed 19 people in a beach restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, army officials stated.
The operation targeted a training camp belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to reports.
An army statement read: “The Israel Defence Forces operated last night deep inside Syrian territory and hit a training base used by terror groups, including Islamic Jihad.
“The Islamic Jihad, like other terror organisations enjoys the support and backing of countries in the region – foremost Iran and Syria.
“Syria is a country that sponsors terror and constantly tries to sabotage any attempt to achieve quiet and stability in the region.”
It is over 20 years since Israeli forces have hit major targets inside Syrian territory.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing on Saturday.
An Islamic Jihad official told Arab TV news channel Al Jazeera that there were no training camps in Syria.
Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, said the Jewish state would not “tolerate” the “axis of terror” between Tehran, Damascus and Gaza.
