One single step can lead to contradictory reactions. That seems to be the trend in the Middle East — a trend that is not alien to the logic of this region or that of the conflict in it. On Feb. 24, Israeli warplanes conducted a raid along the border of Lebanon and Syria. This raid generated identical reactions of confusion and embarrassment for the Damascus authorities and their opponents, and for the allies of these authorities in Beirut and their enemies.

However, Lebanon and Syria reacted differently. In Syria, embarrassment was translated in complete silence. In Lebanon, an endless series of rivalries that might topple the fragile government emerged — a government that was born in Beirut only nine days before the raid.

In Syria, the embarrassment of the conflicting parties seemed understandable. The Syrian authorities have been confused about the aggressive behavior of Israel that has been going on for years, since Damascus is unable to respond. The various recent Israeli raids on Syrian territories and during the domestic war are enough to confirm that.

On Jan. 29, 2013, Damascus asserted that an Israeli air raid targeted a scientific research center affiliated with the Ministry of Defense at Jamraya near the Syrian capital. On Feb. 3, 2013, the Israeli air force launched a similar series of raids in Syria. Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak soon confirmed the news. Amid official Syrian silence, Tehran verbally responded to these attacks. Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili declared on Feb. 4, 2013, that Israel will regret its aggression on Syria, “just as it regretted its aggressions [on Lebanon and Gaza].”