Israel is considering more air strikes on Syria to prevent the transfer of arms to “Islamist militants” in the region according to the New York Times.
The report, citing an unnamed Israeli official, also warned “if Syrian President Bashar Al Assad reacts by attacking Israel, he will risk forfeiting his regime, for Israel will retaliate”.
The new Israeli warning came two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned against any moves that would further destabilize the situation in Syria. He spoke after talks in Moscow with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was set to discuss Syria with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Putin is to discuss the conflict with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday. Earlier this month Russia and the United States proposed to organise a peace conference on Syria expected to build on the never implemented agreement in Geneva last June that called for a ceasefire and the formation of a transitional government.
On the ground, rebels withdrew from a prison in the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday after heavy fighting with government troops. On Wednesday rebels attacked the jail in hopes to free some 4,000 prisoners.
The Syrian Observatory this week released a video of the Al Nusra front executing 11 unknown men. It is not known where the video was taken or when it was shot, but has led to widespread outrage, including the US government calling Al Nusra's leader, Mohammad Al Golani, a terrorist.
