Egypt, Arab League condemn Israeli 'attacks' in Syria

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt on Sunday condemned Israeli air strikes on Syria, with the Arab League also demanding that the UN Security Council act to stop what it called "Israeli attacks" against the war-torn country.

The Egyptian presidency said in a statement the air strikes "violated international law and principles that will further complicate the situation." The raids reportedly targeted rockets destined for Lebanon's Hizbollah.

The Arab League, which like Egypt sides with rebels against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, demanded the Security Council "act immediately to end Israeli attacks on Syria," which it called a "dangerous violation of an Arab state's sovereignty." The presidency in Cairo affirmed "its extreme opposition" to the Syrian regime's brutal crackdown on rebel-held areas, but accused Israel of "exploiting its internal conflict".

A senior Israeli source said an overnight aerial assault hit Iranian weapons destined for the Hizbollah, which is closely allied to the Syrian regime.

A diplomatic source in Beirut told AFP three sites were targeted - a military facility, a nearby weapons depot and an anti-aircraft unit in Sabura, west of the capital Damascus.

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