Israel vows action on weapons

Prime Minister Netanyahu admitted Sunday that Israel is “acting” to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah, the radical Lebanese Shiite ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"The government of Israel is acting in a responsible, determined and prudent manner to ensure the supreme interest of the State of Israel which is the security of its citizens according to the policy we set: to prevent as far as possible leakage of advanced weapons to Hezbollah and terrorist elements," he said during the weekly meeting of his Cabinet.

His remarks come two weeks after alleged Israeli airstrikes outside Damascus targeted supplies of missiles reportedly headed for Hezbollah. Israel has not confirmed or denied that it was behind the strikes.

During his remarks, Netanyahu made no direct mention of those attacks, but said Israel was "preparing for every scenario" in the Syrian conflict.

Netanyahu said the Middle East was going through "one of the most sensitive times in decades," he said, especially because of the "escalating turmoil in Syria."

hc/mkg (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)