The Israeli army said Thursday it was bracing for possible retaliatory attacks by Hizbullah after Tel Aviv threatened to kill Hamas leaders in Syria and flew warplanes over Bashar al Assad's presidential palace.
"This measure has been taken due to concerns that the Lebanese Shiite militia Hizbullah or other organizations will try to trigger an escalation of hostilities by launching border attacks," an Israeli army spokeswoman said. Israel was preparing its units along the northern border "to face any likely scenario," she added.
Syria said the Israeli warplanes were repelled by air-defenses that forced them to leave the area.
"These hostile acts constitute an inexcusable and rejected provocation, indicating that if it meant to hold Hamas leadership responsible for the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier, then Israel would have made a big mistake that exceeds the limits of logic," an official Syrian statement said.
In Beirut, Lebanese leaders resumed national dialogue talks on Thursday aimed at resolving the disputed issue of Hizbullah's right to keep its weapons. Leaders held discussions on the last item on the agenda of the reconciliation talks launched early March.
On the eve of the talks, Speaker Nabih Berri, the organizer of the conference, held talks with Syrian President Bashar al Assad and Vice President Farouk al Sharaa.
