Israeli leader vows to keep weapons from Hezbollah

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister insisted Sunday that he will
not allow "dangerous weapons" to reach Lebanon's Hezbollah militants,
following reports that Israel recently carried out an airstrike in
northern Syria against a shipment of advanced missiles.

The airstrike in Latakia reportedly targeted Russian Yakhont anti-ship
missiles, one of the types of advanced weapons that Israeli officials
have previously said they would not allow to reach Syria. It would be
the fourth known airstrike against Syria this year.

Asked about the reports on the CBS-TV show "Face the Nation," Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to confirm or deny Israeli
involvement in the latest airstrike.

"My policy is to prevent the transfer of dangerous weapons to
Hezbollah in Lebanon and other terror groups as well. And we stand by
that policy," he said, according to a transcript of the interview
provided by CBS.

Israel has been carefully watching the Syrian conflict since it
erupted in March 2011. While it has been careful not to take sides in
the civil war, Israel has repeatedly said it would take action to
prevent what it calls "game changing" weapons, including chemical
weapons and advanced guided missiles, from reaching Hezbollah or other
hostile militant groups. Syria's President Bashar Assad is a key
backer of Hezbollah.

In January, Israeli aircraft destroyed what was believed to be a
shipment of advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles in Syria that were
bound for Lebanon. In May, a pair of Israeli airstrikes near Damascus
targeted advanced Iranian ground-to-ground missiles also thought to be
headed for Hezbollah. Israel has never confirmed involvement in any of
the airstrikes.

Following the May attack, Syrian President Bashar Assad vowed to
retaliate if Israel struck his territory again. Assad has not
commented on the latest alleged airstrike.

Yakhont missiles are powerful anti-ship weapons launched from the
shore that are difficult to defend against.

They travel at twice the speed of sound close to the surface of the
water, making it hard for radar to detect them. Israel sees them as
threatening its military and commercial installations along the coast,
including its offshore natural gas reserves.

Hezbollah used a less-advanced Iranian surface-to-sea missile to hit
an Israeli warship during a monthlong 2006 war. That attack killed
four Israeli sailors.