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U.S. refuses to comment on Syria's claim of Israeli airstrike
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

The United States would not comment on Thursday on Syria's charge that it fired at Israel Air Force aircraft that violated its airspace in the early hours of the day.

Asked about Damascus claim that the aircraft flew over Syria and dropped munitions within its territory, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, "decline to comment."

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said he had seen news reports of Syria's accusation but that there was nothing to substantiate them.

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"I have seen press reports of Syria claiming one thing and Israel denying it," said Casey. "I don't want to comment on what at this point in time is speculation."

"I'm not going to speculate on stories that as far as I know don't have any basis in fact."

Asked whether the United States had asked either Israel or Syria for their version of events, Casey said he was not aware of any U.S. contacts with either government on the issue.

Iran blasted Israel on Thursday over Syria's claims accusing Jerusalem of "spreading insecurity" in the Middle East.

"The aims of that... provocative move by the Zionist regime was to shift its domestic crisis into areas other than Palestine, spreading insecurity in the region and covering up its failure in the 33-day war against Lebanon," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini.

Iran's ambassador to Damascus had contacted Syrian security officials and said that "Iran is ready to provide every kind of assistance to Syria," the official IRNA news agency reported.

Russia, meanwhile, called on Israel to respect international law and expressed "extreme concern" over the reported incident.

"The reports have caused extreme concern in Moscow," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Particularly troubling is that this is the Middle East, a region already heavy with serious conflicts and tension."

Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said Thursday that Damascus is giving serious consideration to its response.

Syrian analyst: Syria won't be drawn into stand-off

Syrian commentator Faiz a-Sayeg told Hezbollah-owned TV station Al-Manar that Israel is trying out invasion paths into Syria.

He said that the IAF warplane was trying to evade Syrian radars, and that it had to drop ammunition to dodge anti-aircraft missiles. He said that Damascus will consider its response if the incident happens again.

"Syria will not be drawn into an inconsequential stand-off in this unfavorable time and place," A-Sayeg told Al Manar. He added that Israel knows well that "today's Syria is very different from yesterday's Syria," especially after the Second Lebanon War. He advised Israeli leaders to reconsider their policy after the last war.

Related articles:
  • Syria: We fired on IAF jet that violated our airspace
  • ANALYSIS: The question is, how will Damascus respond?
  • TIMELINE: A chronology of Israel-Syria relations since 1947
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      1.   Battle Cries, where`s the Beef?f 17:35  |  FOX 06/09/07
      2.   syria wants a war and to get israel first to weaken its readiness 17:36  |  ralph 06/09/07
      3.   IT`S TIME TO SYRIA ANSWER TO ISRAEL 17:42  |  indrajaya 06/09/07
      4.   Lacking evidence 17:44  |  Suzanne 06/09/07
      5.   Everyone cool off 18:14  |  mozie 06/09/07
      6.   what`s new 18:26  |  scanadu 06/09/07
      7.   take it easy, you both children and eat vegetables 18:30  |  omolll 06/09/07
      8.   indrajaya...arm chair generals... 18:32  |  Maimon 06/09/07
      9.   today`s Israel is very different from yesterday`s Israel 18:39  |  Robin 06/09/07
      10.   Peace with Arabs 18:40  |  xxxxx 06/09/07
      11.   to #2 Ralf not Syria, put Israel instead 18:43  |  Robin 06/09/07
      12.   # 3 Inda stupidity is a given too.... 18:47  |  Misha 06/09/07
      13.   Sounds like a malfunction caused a tense moment 19:03  |  IDF Supporter 06/09/07
      14.   It cannot survive without aggression, treachery etc. 19:04  |  david 06/09/07
      15.   FOX - Excellent Reaction 19:10  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/09/07
      16.   Syrian Crap 19:18  |  Brod 06/09/07
      17.   Syrians believing Hezbollah rhetoric??? 19:19  |  Voice of Reason 06/09/07
      18.   #3: let Syria decide 19:28  |  Paul Freedman 06/09/07
      19.   Response to Indrajaya 19:30  |  Mohammed 06/09/07
      20.   syria never learns.... 19:31  |  oded 06/09/07
      21.   #6 IDF Supporter - Who said Syria used their top of the line AA? 19:36  |  Pablo B 06/09/07
      22.   xxxxx 19:38  |  Wissam 06/09/07
      23.   #6 To IDF Supporter 19:42  |  Charlie Don`t Surf 06/09/07
      24.   consider on 19:45  |  Sonja 06/09/07
      25.   what can Syria do - NOTHING!!!! 19:48  |  what response? 06/09/07
      26.   Indrajaya tough guy! 19:49  |  Simon Jenkins 06/09/07
      27.   How is it different from `Yesterday`s Syria`??? 19:51  |  David 06/09/07
      28.   An appropriate response 19:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/09/07
      29.   3....its time 19:57  |  ravi 06/09/07
      30.   Fake indrajaya ALERT # 3 19:59  |  indrajaya 06/09/07
      31.   COME AND HAVE A GO IF YOU THINK YOU`RE HARD ENOUGH! 20:01  |  SM 06/09/07
      32.   Dpn` worry - Nothing`s going to happen 20:15  |  * BEN JABO 06/09/07
      33.   For God`s sake, FOX, just how much influence 20:29  |  martyrmaker 06/09/07
      34.   A telling description of Assad`s Syria 20:31  |  Joe 06/09/07
      35.   IAF 20:31  |  Paul 06/09/07
      36.   Dumped fuel tank vs. Hamas executive attacks orders 20:37  |  Jake 06/09/07
      37.   IDF supporter, sounds reasonable. 20:49  |  Hal 06/09/07
      38.   Mark of Lewiston 20:57  |  Lynn 06/09/07
      39.   IMPOSSIBLE !! 21:17  |  David 06/09/07
      40.   Haaretz is trumpeting Syrian claims more than than Syria itself 21:19  |  Jake 06/09/07
      41.   Stupid move 21:21  |  SSNP 06/09/07
      42.   # 12 21:24  |  Abu Yusuf 06/09/07
      43.   give back the golan 21:27  |  roberta 06/09/07
      44.   blovation on all sides 21:28  |  Paul Freedman 06/09/07
      45.   # 19 Ravi 21:29  |  Abu Yusuf 06/09/07
      46.   Wissam, not sure what on earth you are talking about 21:33  |  Jake 06/09/07
      47.   wissam 14 not exactly 21:35  |  alan 06/09/07
      48.   Oh & Ah: DOGS (Syria, Iran, HEZB, HAMAS) are barking! 21:35  |  Vittorio 06/09/07
      49.   "IDF Home Front Command briefs media on possible missile attack" 21:37  |  cnfd 06/09/07
      50.   Misprint 21:46  |  Mark Katzman 06/09/07
      51.   Stupid strategists 21:48  |  The Belgian 06/09/07
      52.   Wissam #15 21:59  |  Brod 06/09/07
      53.   #22 Ask Mubarak about the Ruskies Chris 21:59  |  natan 06/09/07
      54.   SSNP, #34, a reminder of Syria`s totalitarian schizophrenia 22:00  |  Jake 06/09/07
      55.   Be Careful, Hizbollah works for Syria 22:08  |  Natallie Durson 06/09/07
      56.   #3 to indra, please send reinforment 22:13  |  syria with love 06/09/07
      57.   THE BIGGEST LAUGH 22:17  |  Brant 06/09/07
      58.   The Belgian 22:23  |  RonH 06/09/07
      59.   To SSNP (#34) 22:31  |  christoph 06/09/07
      60.   TO THE BELGIAN 22:31  |  Brant 06/09/07
      61.   Syria considering a response :) 22:39  |  Mike 06/09/07
      62.   david #8 22:39  |  Veritas 06/09/07
      63.   Jake # 30 22:46  |  Veritas 06/09/07
      64.   Big bad Syria 22:59  |  Bretware 06/09/07
      65.   Today`s events 23:08  |  Ehud Barak 06/09/07
      66.   KADIMA is a joke! 23:09  |  Dagma 06/09/07
      67.   syria 23:24  |  paul 06/09/07
      68.   Syria should seek UN Condemnation 23:25  |  Victor 06/09/07
      69.   Ravi #24 - ties with India 23:36  |  Oleg 06/09/07
      70.   damascus considering its response 23:36  |  shmuel 06/09/07
      71.   There is no excuse dumping ammo in someone else`s backyard;this 23:36  |  lakshmi 06/09/07
      72.   Indrajaya 23:39  |  H 06/09/07
      73.   The appropriate response 23:56  |  maoriboy 06/09/07
      74.   appropriate response 23:58  |  Realistic Arab 06/09/07
      75.   Natallie Durson 49 00:02  |  glen 07/09/07
      76.   Sun Tzu says do NOT underestimate 00:07  |  spyguy 07/09/07
      77.   GREAT IDEA, LAKSHMI 00:08  |  Brant 07/09/07
      78.   We Saw Syria`s Response When They Fired And Missed 00:15  |  Efox 07/09/07
      79.   Let Russia urge Syria to honor int`l law not to transfer missiles 00:15  |  Dov L. 07/09/07
      80.   CLASSIC RUSSIAN OPERATION 00:19  |  Brant 07/09/07
      81.   Airspace 00:29  |  ron 07/09/07
      82.