Netanyahu: Israel has the right to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands in Syria

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the BBC that Israel has the right to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands in Syria. Netanyahu added that if the terrorists seized anti-aircraft weapons, they would “change the rules of the game” in the region.

Israel said that although its policy revolves around not getting involved in the Syrian conflict, in recent months its troops responded to sources of fire that attacked them in the areas under its control in the Golan Heights.

In an interview with Liz Dusit from the BBC, Netanyahu said Israel’s concerns are: “Who are the rebels and what weapons do they use?” He added: “The most important weapons that constitute a source of concern to us are the weapons that exist in Syria and these weapons include anti-aircraft weapons, chemical weapons and other serious and very serious weapons that can change the rules of the game.”

He went on to say, “They will change the conditions, and will change the balance of power in the Middle East. They could pose a terrorism threat at the global level. We certainly believe in our interest to defend ourselves, but we also believe that this is for the benefit of other countries too.”

In response to a question regarding the possibility that Israel adopts a more aggressive militarily position in Syria, Netanyahu said, “We are not aggressive. We do not seek military confrontation, but we are ready to defend ourselves when necessarily, and I think that the people realize the words I am saying now are weighted and serious.”

Netanyahu did not confirm whether or not Israel had launched an airstrike on a Syrian weapons convoy last January. Dusit met with Netanyahu during his visit to London to attend the funeral of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, where he held talks with the British Prime Minister David Cameron.