Iran and Syria React Angrily to Israeli Strikes

            “We reject any foreign intervention in Syria and we don’t want Syria to plunge into crisis…Consequences for the region are very heavy, and must be peacefully settled within the framework of a Syrian-Syrian solution. [If] any political vacuum occurs in this country, its consequences would affect all [surrounding] countries…

            We have called on the [Syrian] opposition to negotiate with the government and form a transitional government and determine their own future.” May 7 at a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh

            “Israel is playing with fire…” May 6 in a meeting with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow

            “Such savage acts contradict the basic humane principles…” May 5 in a telephone conversation with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem

            “The Zionist regime must realize that the atrocities it committed in Syria will not go unanswered and it must await a crushing response … This regime is trying to deal a blow to the Muslim world and [sow] discord among Islamic sects by using all means at its disposal… oppression and crime in the region will not endure…” at a May 5 press briefing

 

            “This is a dangerous game… Syria is a powerful country…and will give a strong response to the Zionist regime at the right time and will deliver heavy blows to it… [Israel] cannot easily escape from this adventurism...” May 6 to Iranian news media

            “The inhumane measures and adventures of the Zionist regime in the region will surge anti-Zionist waves and shorten the life of this fake regime…. [Israel's] attack in Syria, which occurred with a green light from the U.S., pulled the curtain back on the relationship between the mercenary terrorists and their supporters and the Zionist regime… [Iran] condemns the Zionist regime attack and recommends the regional countries to wisely stand against such aggressions…” May 5 to Fars News Agency

 

            “As a Muslim nation, we back Syria, and if there is need for training we will provide them with the training. But we won’t have any active involvement in the operations…” May 5 at a press briefing

            “[Iran] will not allow the enemy to harm the security of the region…the resistance will retaliate to the Israeli aggression against Syria… The Syrian people and government have been resisting against a wide range of hostile enemies for more than two years and the US and its allies have done whatever they could against this country… Our region is now witnessing the biggest foreign-sponsored terrorism throughout the contemporary history…” May 5 in an interview with Al Alam television station

            I deny “Western and Israeli media reports that an Iranian weapons depot has been targeted in Syria… The Syrian government does not need Iran's military aid, and these sorts of reports are propaganda and psychological war…” May 6 on Revolutionary Guards website according to AFP

 

            “When they attack, this is a declaration of war…We dealt with this on several occasions, and we retaliated the way we wanted, and the retaliation was always painful to Israel, and they will suffer again...

            This is direct Israeli support for al Qaeda ... and the other forces fighting against Syria, to undermine Syria and to weaken Syria” May 5 in an interview with CNN

            “The blatant Israeli aggression has the aim to provide direct military support to the terrorist groups after they failed to control territory…  [Israel’s] aggressive acts would increase tension in the region, and drag it into a large-scale regional war that would threaten peace and security in the region and the world.” In a May 5 letter to the U.N. Security Council according to state television

            “The Israeli enemy has committed…a blatant attack against the Syrian Arab Republic while using missiles to target military facilities, in a flagrant violation of all rules of international law... this aggression opens the door wide open to all possibilities and … reveals… the close ties between the forces of war upon Syria… this linkage in objective, tools and means connecting the takfiri mentality [accusing others of apostasy], Zionism, the terror gangs, and the Nusra Front, which is al Qaeda’s arm in Syria…

            This aggression… came at a time during which our brave forces… were able to achieve major accomplishments in combatting terrorism and terrorists coming from various countries around the world who are funded by the entities of Arab humiliation and servility…

            All countries supporting Israel have to clearly understand that our people and government won’t accept servility and that Israel and its agents in the region cannot act alone and interfere with regional security… [Syria] always has the right, but also the duty, to protect the nation, the government, and the people from any internal or external aggression by all available ways, means and capabilities…” May 5 in a statement broadcast on state television

 

            "If Israel did not have U.S. and Arab League cover it would never have carried out these airstrikes on Damascus." Reported by Ahul Bayt News Agency on May 6