Israel Seeks to Ban Arms Smuggling From Syria to Hezbollah Movement

Israel is making efforts to prevent the smuggling of sophisticated weaponry and weapons of mass destruction from Syria to the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Wednesday.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — The statement comes after the Lebanese television channel al-Mayadeen reported earlier in the day about airstrikes by Israel’s military on airport in the surroundings of the Syrian capital of Damascus.

"We are first and foremost working to ensure the security of our citizens and to protect our sovereignty, as well as striving to prevent the smuggling of advanced weaponry, military equipment and weapons of mass destruction from Syria to Hezbollah," Liberman said at a meeting with the EU envoys, as quoted by the ministry’s press service.

Hezbollah, established in the 1980s, is a paramilitary and political organization originating in Lebanon's Shiite population. The group initially aimed to end Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.