'Israel testing waters for full-scale attack against Syria'

Israeli fighter jets carried out a series of attacks against a number of Syrian military positions near the Golan Heights on Saturday after several mortar shells exploded in an open area in the occupied territory.

The Israeli army announced in a statement that the action was in response to more than 10 projectiles fired into Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories from inside Syria. Tel Aviv described the projectile fire as "errant," blaming it on internal fighting. The Israeli army also added that its airstrikes targeted two tanks and a post from which the mortars were allegedly fired. 

The Syrian army confirmed multiple civilian casualties from the Israeli bombing raid, which hit a residential building.

In an exclusive interview with Press TV, director of the Institute for Historical Review, Mark Weber, said that by carrying such periodical attacks against Syrian positions in the Golan Heights, Tel Aviv is setting the stage for a massive military attack against Syrian territories.

“This military exchange that just took place is not so important in itself,” Weber noted, adding that “it is part of the positioning for what may be a much larger military action in the future.”

He also reiterated that this action is a real test for the international community to show how much they are determined to counter the spread of war in the Middle East.

“This is especially important for the world opinion. If Europe and other countries take no action against Israel and by extension, against the United States’ actions, which are illegal under the international law, then Israel is emboldened to take much more destructive military action in the future,” Weber cautioned.

The analyst further described Israel as the main stumbling block to the establishment of sustainable peace in the Middle East, stressing that the ultimate goal for the Israeli officials is to bring down hostile governments, such as those of Syria and Iran, through creating maximum chaos and disorder.

During the past few years, Israel has frequently attacked military targets in Syria in what is considered as an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering heavy defeats in their battle against Syrian government forces.

Back in April 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially admitted for the first time that the regime's military had conducted strikes in Syrian territory.  

Damascus says Israel and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups operating inside the Arab country, while the Tel Aviv regime's military carries out sporadic strikes against Syrian government forces. The Israeli regime has even set up field hospitals to treat wounded militants evacuated from Syria.

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