Sources: U.S. believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria
updated 8:32 PM EDT, Fri May 3, 2013
U.S. officials: Israel airstrike on Syria
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Sources say a strike mostly likely occurred in the Thursday-Friday time frame
- The U.S. does not believe Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace
U.S. and Western
intelligence agencies are reviewing classified data showing Israel most
likely conducted a strike in the Thursday-Friday time frame, according
to both officials. This is the same time frame that the U.S. collected
additional data showing Israel was flying a high number of warplanes
over Lebanon.
One official said the
United States had limited information so far and could not yet confirm
those are the specific warplanes that conducted a strike. Based on
initial indications, the U.S. does not believe Israeli warplanes entered
Syrian airspace to conduct the strikes.
Both officials said there
is no reason to believe Israel struck at a chemical weapons storage
facilities. The Israelis have long said they would strike at any targets
that prove to be the transfer of any kinds of weapons to Hezbollah or
other terrorist groups, as well as at any effort to smuggle Syrian
weapons into Lebanon that could threaten Israel.
The Lebanese army website
listed 16 flights by Israeli warplanes penetrating Lebanon's airspace
from Thursday evening through Friday afternoon local time.
The Israeli military had
no comment. But a source in the Israeli defense establishment told CNN's
Sara Sidner, "We will do whatever is necessary to stop the transfer of
weapons from Syria to terrorist organizations. We have done it in the
past and we will do it if necessary the future."
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