Syria's foreign minister yesterday offered to join militant group Hezbollah in its fight against Israel and said a regional war would be "most welcome" as more than 30 people in Israel and Lebanon were killed on one of the worst days since the conflict began. But as the attempts at diplomacy continued, Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, defiantly trumpeted his country's support for Hezbollah and warned that Syria was ready for "the possibility of a regional war if the Israeli aggression continues. If you wish, I'm ready to be a soldier at the disposal of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah [the Hezbollah leader]," he said. | "Hassan, we will defend you with our blood!" |
“ "If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately"
Walid Muallem, Syrian foreign minister ” |
He was speaking after crossing into neighbouring Lebanon in the first visit by a senior Syrian official since Damascus - under international and Lebanese pressure - ended a 29-year military presence there last year. Asked if he feared the conflict in Lebanon could spill over into a regional war, Mr Muallem said: "Most welcome. If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately," he added. Mr Muallem also lashed out at the draft UN resolution, describing it as a prescription "for the continuation of the war". He said: "It's not fair for Lebanon, therefore it's a plan for the possibility of the eruption of civil war in Lebanon and nobody, nobody, nobody has anything to gain from that happening, except Israel." | Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had the following statement for the press: " ..... ." |
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