Israel warns Iran attack from Syrian territory endangers Assad's regime

JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli cabinet minister on Monday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that if he allowed Iran to attack Israel, he would pay for it with his life, local media reported.

The remark was made as Israeli officials warned that Israel will not allow Iran to establish military bases in Syria, Israel's northern neighbor.

"If Assad allows anyone, Iran or anyone else, to declare war on Israel from Syrian territory, his blood will be on his own head," Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in an interview to Hebrew-language Ynet news site.

The minister, an associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, added that attacking Israel from Syrian territory would endanger Assad's regime and his own existence.

According to Steinitz, the Iranians may be trying to lower tensions in the United States, but they are increasing tensions and instability in Syria and in the entire region.

The remarks were made amid escalation of tension between Israel and Iran and Israel's alleged attack on the T-4 air base in Syria earlier in April.

According to Israel, from this airbase, an Iranian armed drone was launched towards Israel on Feb. 10. Enditem