Former defense minister: Israel must defend its citizens

Security experts address reports on Israeli overnight strike on Damascus; not confirming strike indeed occured, but stressing that Israel has right to prevent Hezbollah from arming; 'effort to arm Hezbollah will continue,' MK Hanegbi says

Atilla Somfalvi|Published: 05.05.13 , 10:48

Israel launched an airstrike in Damascus, according to Syrian reports, and the attack will most likely not deter Assad's regime from transferring weapons to Hezbollah , MK Tzachi Hanegbi told Ynet Sunday.

Hanegbi noted that Hezbollah had interests in accumulating as much ammunition as possible, so as to get ahead in the arms race with Israel.

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He further said that the Syrian regime was obligated to the Lebanese terror group.

"The effort to arm Hezbollah will continue in the future," the MK said, adding that he did not believe Syrian President Bashar Assad would retaliate if Israel in fact launched a strike.

Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Ynet he does not know for a fact whether Israel was responsible for the overnight strike on Damascus.

He went on to call the munitions reportedly targeted at the Jamraya military research center "a game changer," adding that Israel could not sit idly by in the face of such threat, adding that Israel must defend its citizens and borders.

Former Minister Yossi Peled also addressed the strike, saying that such a move would clarify that there are specific types of weapon that Israel will not allow to get into the wrong hands and that "Israel has both the right and the obligation" to prevent Hezbollah from arming.