Israel warns Iran after launching major raids in Syria

 

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will defend itself "against any attack" after it

 launched what have been called its largest strikes against sites in Syria in decades.

"This is both our right and our duty and we will continue to do so as much as necessary," he said on Saturday.
Israel launched raids against Iranian targets after saying it intercepted an Iranian drone.
Iran's presence in Syria has caused alarm in Israel.
Mr Netanyahu warned that Israel's policy to defend itself against "any attempt to harm our sovereignty" was "absolutely clear".
"Iran brazenly violated Israel's sovereignty," he said, adding: "They dispatched an Iranian drone from Syrian territory into Israel... Israel holds Iran and its Syrian hosts responsible.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel would oppose any attempt by Iran to entrench itself militarily in Syria.
But he also said during a meeting with military chiefs that "Israel seeks peace".
In other international reaction:

• The US State Department said it supported Israel's right to defend itself, blaming Iran for the confrontation
• In a phone call with Mr Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need to avoid a "dangerous escalation". He has been supporting the Syrian government
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate de-escalation in the actions that he said threaten a "dangerous spill-over" across Syria's border