News - Middle East: Russian Ambassador to Syria Alexander Efimov has roundly denounced Israeli airstrikes against various targets in Syria, arguing that the aerial assaults are aimed at “provoking” Moscow to react and respond to the incessant acts of aggression against the war-ravaged Arab country.

Efimov noted that Israeli strikes aim to “escalate tensions and allow the West to carry out military activities in Syria.”
The remarks are one of the strongest Russian condemnations of Israeli operations in Syria.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on Syrian territories which many regard as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting terrorism.

Israel has been a key supporter of terrorist groups that have opposed the government of President Bashar al-Assad since the foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria in March 2011.

Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, reported that Israeli jets struck several sites near the capital Damascus at around 5 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on March 7, killing two people and causing material damage.