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Syrian Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa, right, meets Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Saltanov on Thursday. (AP)
Last update - 00:00 14/09/2007
Damascus denies ruling out military response to IAF attack
By Haaretz Staff and News Agencies
Tags: Israel, nuclear, Syria, IAF

The Syrian deputy foreign minister on Saturday denied reports that he had said Damascus was not planning a military response, 10 days after Syria accused that Israel Air Force warplanes bombed targets in its territory. (Click here for map).

Damascus said on September 6 that IAF jets had violated its airspace in the early hours of the morning, and had been fired upon by Syrian air defenses.

Shortly after the first announcement, Damascus said that the IAF had bombed targets, but the Syrian envoy to the U.S. over the weekend denied that an IAF attack had occurred.
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Israel has declined to comment about the incident at all.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad told a Lebanese newspaper that his words were taken out of context and that Syria has never remained silent in the face of a military penetration of its territory.

Mekdad warned after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Friday that growing tension could spark a violent outbreak in the region, and that Syria has the "means to respond in ways that will preserve its position of power."

In an interview with Newsweek published Friday, Syria's ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, said that Israel would "pay a price" for violating Syria's airspace.

He told the American publication that it went against Syria's national interests not to respond to Israel's provocation. He also denied reports in the U.S. media that the IAF had been targeting a nuclear project that Syria was developing in cooperation with North Korea.

European diplomats who met with Syrian Vice President Walid Moallem earlier this week had told Haaretz that they had received the impression that Syria would not retaliate militarily.

Syria protested Tuesday to the United Nations about the strike, but said that no targets had been struck and that there was no damage.

According to Syria's envoy to the United Nations, Bashar al-Jaafari, the protest complained of Israel's "aggression and violation of [Syrian] sovereignty."

Al-Jaafari said the complaint came in two letters to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the president of the Security Council. The letters said the IAF had violated the disengagement agreement reached after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Al-Jaafari said Israel had violated Syrian air space and dropped munitions. But he denied reports that Israel had landed troops inside Syria.

"This is absolutely not true," he said, adding that the reports were an attempt to show that Israel could land troops wherever it wants.

The only countries that have expressed solidarity with Syria are Iran and North Korea. Russia issued a condemnation of sorts.
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  1.   No Military Response 14:52  |  Mark T 14/09/07
  2.   Syria will never respond to the truth of its situation 15:05  |  Panther 14/09/07
  3.   Smart move...How many time have you lost to Israel in war?? 15:45  |  Ryan 14/09/07
  4.   We trust every word the enemy speaks 15:52  |  Chaim Gorenstein 14/09/07
  5.   Syria is getting wiser. 15:59  |  ottomatik 14/09/07
  6.   25 years ago Israel save the world by destroying nuke reactor in 16:33  |  Vittorio 14/09/07
  7.   if you contempt Syria you will create more hate 16:36  |  mehmet 14/09/07
  8.   First, a conference with nasrallah 16:42  |  Chick 14/09/07
  9.   Syria will respond 16:46  |  Indrajaya 14/09/07
  10.   Respond. I dare you 16:56  |  Lou Medel 14/09/07
  11.   I Agree With Panther 17:23  |  Nicky 14/09/07
  12.   Holding the Fire, for now 17:40  |  Fish 14/09/07
  13.   Of course Syria will respond 17:42  |  Existential 14/09/07
  14.   Indrajaya 17:45  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  15.   I dare to respond 17:48  |  Lolly 14/09/07
  16.   ooh Lou... 17:49  |  mb 14/09/07
  17.   So What is New??? 17:50  |  Mike 14/09/07
  18.   Syria syria syria. When will you learn? 18:00  |  Joe! 14/09/07
  19.   Mehmet - lets get real 18:04  |  David Israel 14/09/07
  20.   #14 - BEN JABO is forgetting that 18:04  |  Indrajaya 14/09/07
  21.   # 7 Mehmet, concentrate on turkish problems... 18:21  |  Misha 14/09/07
  22.   Syrian treachery 18:32  |  Castor 14/09/07
  23.   Indrajaya? 18:56  |  Existential 14/09/07
  24.   #7, mehmet 19:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/09/07
  25.   23 - Existential 19:16  |  Indrajaya 14/09/07
  26.   Of course not, only Israel wants war (as usual) 19:23  |  peacelover 14/09/07
  27.   earthquake in the democratic state of Indonesia 19:29  |  dovale 14/09/07
  28.   You really don`t understand, Indra 19:30  |  Existential 14/09/07
  29.   to mehmet no.7 19:35  |  dovale 14/09/07
  30.   #9,20,23 : Fake Indrajaya alert 19:41  |  Indrajaya 14/09/07
  31.   Indrajaya is forgetting 20:05  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  32.   David Israel, is there really 1 Billion Arabs? 20:07  |  Ibrahim 14/09/07
  33.   Indrajaya 20:08  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  34.   #26 peacelover 20:09  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  35.   Reality check all Israelis 20:15  |  Syrian 14/09/07
  36.   #20 2nd try Indrajaya 21:20  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  37.   leb war II 21:45  |  vik 14/09/07
  38.   Well Lou # 10 from Arizona 21:51  |  Bill 14/09/07
  39.   Indrajaya 21:51  |  Nemesis 14/09/07
  40.   Ibrahim - There are 1 billin Moslems 22:00  |  David Israel 14/09/07
  41.   Indrayaya the prophet 22:04  |  ottomatik 14/09/07
  42.   #10..lou medel..time for a new light bulb,buddy. 22:10  |  who cares 14/09/07
  43.   Syrian 22:19  |  Rory 14/09/07
  44.   David of Israel 22:34  |  Bernie 14/09/07
  45.   Panther #2, you are dam right! 22:44  |  Rafa 14/09/07
  46.   Syria has already responded... 22:45  |  Rafa 14/09/07
  47.   Bernie #44 you already prophesized the end of Israel 22:56  |  David Israel 14/09/07
  48.   To rory #43 23:01  |  Another Syrian 14/09/07
  49.   Bernie one more thing 23:05  |  David Israel 14/09/07
  50.   #44 Bernie - why not finish up with the old 23:18  |  * BEN JABO 14/09/07
  51.   #44 ..Bernie 23:38  |  Nemesis 14/09/07
  52.   Nemesis - about #44 Bernie 23:53  |  David Israel 14/09/07
  53.   dream world 23:57  |  yakub 14/09/07
  54.   David Israel...not quite 23:58  |  Ibrahim 14/09/07
  55.   But the good news 00:07  |  Sam 15/09/07
  56.   Israel will defeat Syria 00:47  |  Josh 15/09/07
  57.   Ibrahim - Israel does not sent threats 00:53  |  David Israel 15/09/07
  58.   Clear DECLARATION OF WAR! 01:31  |  Samy 15/09/07
  59.   mark t 01:39  |  eric 15/09/07
  60.   WHICH Israel do u want Hamas to recognize? 01:40  |  Samy 15/09/07
  61.   #58 - Samy distorting the reality 02:11  |  Maurice 15/09/07
  62.   #58 Samy LA 03:02  |  * BEN JABO 15/09/07
  63.   #60 Samy - you`re doing all the spinning 03:06  |  *BEN JABO 15/09/07
  64.   Response to Maurice #61 03:45  |  Samy 15/09/07
  65.   David Israel...I disagree 03:52  |  Ibrahim 15/09/07
  66.   We`re rattling sabers for the inevitable war 04:30  |  John_AZ 15/09/07
  67.   Take a closer look Samy 04:38  |  Rory 15/09/07
  68.   Re;Ibrahim. loving terrorists 04:41  |  e.m 15/09/07
  69.   indonesia eartquake- dovale 05:10  |  ralph 15/09/07
  70.   Ibrahim - Israel also has some blame but 06:03  |  David Israel 15/09/07
  71.   No military re action from Syria RIGHT ??? 06:22  |  M. Segal 15/09/07
  72.   #52..David Israel NY re:Bernie 06:37  |  Nemesis 15/09/07
  73.   #52 - Nemesis & David Israel 08:11  |  Maurice 15/09/07
  74.   # 9, # 20, #23, FAKE INDRAJAYA ALERT 08:13  |  indrajaya 15/09/07
  75.   Samy, Samy, how can you 10:57  |  Bruce 15/09/07
  76.   #7 Mr Mehmet and #19 Mr David : 10:58  |  Observer 15/09/07
  77.   #9 Indra Jaya will respond 12:37  |  51 shekels 15/09/07
  78.   The New Grand Canyon will open for tourism soon 13:21  |  Avi 15/09/07
  79.   Samy the bad neighbour 13:33  |  Jasmine Murphy 15/09/07
  80.   Indrajaya..your hatred of Israel is lethal 13:35  |  Avi 15/09/07
  81.   Turkey threatened all out war with Syria in 98 for supporting PKK 13:52  |  Ken Jurist 15/09/07
  82.   Syria now denies..... 13:54  |  Dagma 15/09/07
  83.   A message for Hizbolla as well 14:06  |  Avi 15/09/07
  84.   Samy - you are an extremist 14:19  |  Avi 15/09/07
  85.   Response to Indrajaya 15:03  |  Lebanese 15/09/07
  86.   Leo Meddle 15:15  |  hehe 15/09/07
  87.   Indrajayayayaya 15:21  |  Jasmine Murphy 15/09/07
  88.   Ibrahim 15:26  |  Jasmine Murphy 15/09/07
  89.   Syrian denies saying Damascus wouldn`t respond to IAF attack 15:37  |  hehe 15/09/07
  90.   Bleating like a friggin goat again 15:44  |  Brett 15/09/07
  91.   i was just wondering where is 16:00  |  scanadu 15/09/07
  92.   64Samy,well said,and the westernworld has aided and approved of 16:14  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  93.   #84 - Avi regarding Samy 16:22  |  Maurice 15/09/07
  94.   60Samy,&84 Avi,Samy spot on ! And it is not possible for the 17:49  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  95.   to 93 Maurice:The FBI should look for 3 billion people ..... 18:04  |  Michele 15/09/07
  96.   Mr. Observer - Israel does not commit the crimes you mentioned 18:30  |  David Israel 15/09/07
  97.   Fairy Tales 19:06  |  Skeptical 15/09/07
  98.   #84 Avi re: Samy 19:06  |  * BEN JABO 15/09/07
  99.   Syria 19:14  |  Joseph (Lebanese) 15/09/07
  100.   Mr Faysal Mekdad be happy...always a first time 19:32  |  Super indrajaya 15/09/07
  101.   Would Israel accept being bombed by another state? 19:35  |  brad 15/09/07
  102.   responce to Indrajaya 19:35  |  Gary Tomasch 15/09/07
  103.   96David israel,what do you call dropping 4 million cluster bombs 19:42  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  104.   95Michele,truly said,and the colonial enterprise is now the 19:49  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  105.   Michele 19:49  |  infidel 15/09/07
  106.   ibrahim: ridiculous 20:19  |  utagawa 15/09/07
  107.   Foolish Indrajayah 20:23  |  TWogunz 15/09/07
  108.   # 98 Brad 20:25  |  Jasmine Murphy 15/09/07
  109.   Foolish Indrajayah part 2 20:26  |  Twogunz 15/09/07
  110.   105Infidel,sorry but jews only have equal ancient title claim,if 20:52  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  111.   David Israel 21:08  |  lakshmi # 103 15/09/07
  112.   Jasmine--so you agree with me? 21:14  |  brad 15/09/07
  113.   Analyze This 21:32  |  Realistic Arab 15/09/07
  114.   To e.m # 68 As you appear to be unaware..... 21:48  |  Dagma 15/09/07
  115.   about Israel 21:54  |  Another Syrian 15/09/07
  116.   Yeah right, syria never remained silent! 22:54  |  nir 15/09/07
  117.   Lou Medel #10 23:24  |  Bretware 15/09/07
  118.   lakshmi 23:36  |  infidel 15/09/07
  119.   #113..realistic arab 23:37  |  Nemesis 15/09/07
  120.   #111 ..lakshmi 23:44  |  Nemesis 15/09/07
  121.   OLMERT WHAT A LIE 23:57  |  zvi 15/09/07
  122.   115Another Syrian,agreed that the immigrant jews should be sent 23:58  |  lakshmi 15/09/07
  123.   # 101 brad, 00:10  |  Lynn 16/09/07
  124.   # 99 Joseph of France 00:19  |  Lynn 16/09/07
  125.   lakshmi - what do you call launching rocekets from apartments? 00:47  |  David Israel 16/09/07
  126.   Lynn, Apology versus "Arab pride"= no, never, apologize! 00:58  |  akiva patysh 16/09/07
  127.   lakshmi - #103 01:03  |  David Israel 16/09/07
  128.   119Nemesis,"The UNMine Action Coordination Center South Lebanon 01:43  |  lakshmi 16/09/07
  129.   lakshmi - #103 03:43  |  David Israel 16/09/07
  130.   Zvi - OLMERT WHAT A LIE 04:08  |  Omran 16/09/07
  131.   #62, Absolute power in the name of self defence? 04:21  |  .. 16/09/07
  132.   lakshmi 04:44  |  infidel 16/09/07
  133.   David israel you`ve answered your own posts,the key word 12:23  |  lakshmi 16/09/07
  134.   #181 Brad - Of course sho wouldn`t 17:17  |  * BEN JABO 16/09/07
  135.   132 Infidel,this post is slightly off key,but I`ll assume it is 17:52  |  lakshmi 16/09/07
  136.   Lakshmi - so what 18:47  |  * BEN JABO 16/09/07
  137.   lakshmi - And ?? 20:47  |  infidel 16/09/07
  138.   # 9 Indrajaya 01:07  |  Jim 18/09/07
  139.   Are you KIDDING??? 22:12  |  Becki 01/03/09
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