Israeli warplanes reportedly strike Syrian-Lebanese border

The alleged move comes amid concerns over Syria's possible use of chemical weapons

Published January 30, 2013 3:41PM (EST)

  (AP/Ariel Schalit)
(AP/Ariel Schalit)

This article originally appeared on GlobalPost.

Global Post Israeli military jets hit a target on the Syria-Lebanon border, Lebanese and Western officials said today, according to Reuters and The Associated Press.

The Israeli military refused to comment on the reports, said The Guardian, noting that the alleged move comes amid concerns over Syria's chemical weapons, which some fear may be in use as violence deepens there.

Some 60,000 people are believed to have been killed in the conflict between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an armed rebellion against his rule, reaching a level of crisis many fear will trigger instability throughout the region.

A Lebanese military official said Wednesday that 12 Israeli military warplanes had violated the country's airspace within the last day, according to AP, while a military statement said there was "increased activity" from Israel in Lebanon over the past week.

"The Israeli air force blew up a convoy which had just crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon," a security source speaking on the condition of anonymity told Agence-France Press.

Unidentified Western sources confirmed the activity to Reuters. "There was definitely a hit in the border area," one security source said, while another diplomat said, "something has happened" there.

Middle East watcher Laura Rosen seemed to agree, writing:

Israeli media, circumscribed by military censorship, cited Lebanese and other foreign media reports on the developments, which came after days of intense and secretive security consultations in Israel and with foreign capitals.


By Kristin Deasy

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