'When there was a threat, we acted,' Ya'alon says of Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad threatens Israel over alleged attacks on military installation last month, claims Syria has always retaliated against Israeli actions, "but we retaliated in our own way, and only the Israelis know what we mean."

News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon. | Photo credit: Lior Mizrahi

Israel does not currently see al-Qaida terrorists' seizure of Scud missiles in Syria as a threat, Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon told Army Radio Sunday morning.

Rebel fighters aligned with al-Qaida announced Sunday morning that they captured Scud missile stockpiles from the Syrian regime. Ya'alon said he "heard the report. Israel is not getting involved in bloody civil war raging throughout Syria. We are following the developments and currently we do not perceive a threat. When we identified a threat [in the past] — we acted along the border and other places, as of now we are monitoring developments. We will maintain this policy in the future as well."

According to Army Radio, it remains unclear whether the Scud missiles are operational, and if their launchers are in rebel hands as well.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a series of threats against Israel for its alleged attack on a Syrian military facility. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Assad claimed that Syria always retaliated against Israeli actions, "but we retaliated in our own way, and only the Israelis know what we mean. Retaliation does not mean missile for missile or bullet for bullet. Our own way does not have to be announced."

Ya'alon told Army Radio that while there were more than a few shots fired into Israel from Syria, they are still seen as unintentional spillover from the Syrian conflict. "Israeli citizens can live in security, the IDF is prepared to defend them," he said.