Lebanese nationalism

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on March 19 threatened to destroy Syrian air defense systems after they fired ground-to-air missiles at Israeli warplanes carrying out strikes.

"The next time the Syrians use their air defense systems against our planes we will destroy them without the slightest hesitation," Lieberman said on Israeli public radio.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted several strikes inside Syria on March 16, prompting Syrian forces to retaliate with ground-to-air missiles. 

Israeli fighter jets launched three raids targeting Lebanese militia Hezbollah in Syria overnight.

The aircraft also carried out several other strikes. Syria reacted by launching a small number of ground-to-air missiles. The IDF intercepted one of them with the first official Arrow launch in operational conditions.

Two bombs killed at least 40 people, mostly Iraqis and wounded 120 more who were going to pray at a nearby shrine, the Iraqi foreign ministry said, cited by Reuters.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, which the Hezbollah-run al-Manar TV station said had been carried out by two suicide bombers.

The Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the government and its allies of cease-fire violations in Syria, calling for Iran to use its influence and address the issue.

The Syrian opposition said on Tuesday that it had decided to put all discussions about the Kazakhstan talks on hold until the truce is fully implemented.

Ceasefire violations by the Syrian government and Shiite militias are threatening to derail scheduled peace talks in Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated on Jan. 4.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Turkey guilty of violating the right to life of a local politician who was shot dead outside of a café in the Yüre?ir district of southern Adana province some 22 years ago. Turkey is set to pay 20,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages to the victim's wife, in addition to 3,000 euros to cover the family's costs and expenses.

A top Israeli military leader on April 20 issued a stern warning to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, saying any future war between the two enemies will unleash "devastating" damage on Lebanon.
     

Israel has launched dozens of strikes in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 11, acknowledging for the first time such attacks against suspected arms transfers to Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas. 

According to the Russian Air force Commander in Chief, Colonel Viktor Bondarev the withdrawal of the largest part of Russian forces from Syria will be completed within the next two to three days. Speaking to Russian newspaper ‘Kosmomolskaya Pravda’. Israel has asked for reassurances from Russia that its withdrawal will not strengthen Hezbollah and Shiite paramilitary groups in Syria.