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Will Syria Retaliate For Israeli Airstrikes?

If Syria is going to retaliate for Israeli's recent strikes, it is unlikely to do so soon, alone or in a manner that would lead to a comprehensive war, observes Haytham Mouzahem in an examination of official statements.
Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah wave Hezbollah, Lebanese and Amal movement flags as one of them carries a poster depicting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, at a protest against a film made in the United States that mocks the Prophet Mohammad, in Tyre, southern Lebanon September 19, 2012. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho  (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTR385LT

Since the reported Israeli air strikes on Syria on May 3 and May 5, speculation has been rampant about whether Damascus will retaliate. Here is some of what has been said by Syrian, Lebanese and Israeli officials and assessments of their words and past deeds by actors close to the parties involved.

A few hours after Israel's May 5 attack, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad told CNN, “When they attack, this is a declaration of war. This is not something that is [new]. We dealt with this on several occasions, and we retaliated the way we wanted, and the retaliation was always painful to Israel, and they will suffer again.”

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