Israel bombs a Syrian radar station in Lebanon

A Syrian official source said today ( Monday) the following: At 12.20 p.m. Today, April 16, 2001, Israeli air formations violated the Lebanese airspace and bombed one of our positions in the Lebanese territories. Our defense forces intercepted the raiding Israeli planes.

As a result of this air bombardment one of the Syrian radar centers was hit. One Syrian soldier was killed and other four wounded.

Syria considers this flagrant aggression against its forces, as well as the Israeli brutal and racist crimes against the Palestinian people in occupied Palestinian territories as an expression of the aggressive policy pursued by the government of Israel led by Sharon. A matter which constitutes a grave escalation that would destabilize security in the region.

Syria considers this aggression as a defiance to the will of the Arab nation. A will expressed at the recent Amman's summit in which the Arab leaders voiced their complete solidarity with Syria and Lebanon and their rejection to the Israeli aggression and threats. Syria also hold Israel responsible for this grave escalation, and preserve her self the right to defend herself against any aggression.

The Syrian Arab republic diverts the attention of the International Community to the danger of this aggression and calls on the UN to firmly stands against these grave provocation and to work for ending the Israeli occupation of the occupied Arab lands in implementation of International Legitimacy resolutions.