EMPTY THREAT OR CAN SYRIAN THREAT REALLY BE CARRIED OUT?

Syria's UN envoy in veiled threat: We will attack Ben-Gurion Airport

Israel Hayom
January 23, 2019

Syria's Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari warned Tuesday that his country would attack Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv if the world body fails to stop Israeli strikes on his country, including on the international airport in Damascus.

Speaking before the U.N. Security Council after a series of IAF airstrikes on Sunday and Monday, Jaafari said Israel was only able to act freely in Syria because it had the backing of the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the Security Council.

If the Security Council didn't adopt measures stop Israel, "Syria would practice its legitimate right of self-defense and respond to the Israeli aggression on Damascus International Airport in the same way on Tel Aviv airport," Jaafari was quoted as saying by Syrian state media Sana.

"Isn't it time now for the U.N. Security Council to stop the Israeli repeated aggressions on the Syrian Arab republic territories?" Jaafari said.

While it's unclear if Syria has the ability to carry out Jaafari's threat, any attempt to do so would be undoubtedly viewed by Israel as a major escalation.

EDITOR’S Note: If Syria possesses Russian intermediate-range missiles and has the wherewithal to operate them, it could strike at Ben-Gurion Airport. If Syria attempts that, can Israel’s Iron Dome defensive system intercept the missile before it reaches its intended target?