Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
confirmed reports of a Hezbollah
base on Syrian territory, Ynet reported.
According to media reports, during a meeting with his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi on Saturday, Netanyahu said Lebanese terrorists belonging to the Shiite group were operating long-range Scud missiles from bases inside Syria.
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| Report: Syria arming Hezbollah from secret bases / Ynet |
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British Times reports satellite images reveal Shiite organization 'allowed to operate freely' at secret compound in Syrian town of Adra, from which missiles are sent to Lebanon. Intelligence sources say ongoing smuggling increases chances of Israeli strike |
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The Israeli and Italian leaders held talks on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris this weekend, Channel 2 said.
Netanyahu was quoted as saying that "the Syrians transferred to Hezbollah Scud missiles that remained on Syrian soil."
The prime minister's comments follow a report published in the London Times on Friday claiming that new satellite images prove the existence of Hezbollah arms depots on Syrian soil.
According to the report, the Times has been shown images of one such site, located in a compound near the town of Adra, northeast of Damascus. The site reportedly includes living quarters for Hezbollah fighters, arms sheds and a fleet of trucks used for transferring weapons. The facility is believed to be one of several used as a base for weapons deliveries.
“Hezbollah is allowed to operate this site freely,” a security source told the paper. “They often move the arms in bad weather when Israeli satellites are unable to track them.” The weapons in question are either of Syrian origin, or are delivered from Iran by sea or by air.
The Times said the chances that Israel may send a "calibrated signal" to Hezbollah and Syria by launching a precise airstrike against a weapons convoy are increasing, this following reports of Israeli plans to bomb a Syrian arms convey as it crossed the border into Lebanon. The Israeli strike was reportedly called off at the last minute.
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