Immediate verbal reaction came from the Syrian government and the Party of God: the Minister of Information Mahmud Al Zubi stated that Syria will be ready in considering any option as response to the air bombing, more theatrical has been Deputy Foreign Minister’s Faisal al Medad comment as he labelled the airstrikes just like a terrorist attack; last but not least President Al-Assad declared that Syria possesses the essential assets suitable in openly facing Israel. Promptly have been Hezbollah’s accusations too: Deputy Secretary Naim Qassem defined Israeli intervention as stage of an international plot aimed to overturn Assad; along this line Nasrallah declared he will be ready to protect Syria from Israel, United States and “takfiri” (Sunni jihadist groups in conflict against Shiite ones). Iranian reactions were simultaneous: while the Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast immediately condemned Israeli airstrike, Iranian army ground forces Commander Ahmad Reza assured to be ready to help Syria against the «Zionist regime».

At present, it is difficult to predict what could happen in the foreseeable future. Even if engaged in a bloody and consuming civil war, Damascus seems ready to react, apparently relying on Iranian and Hezbollah’s back-up. On the opposite side, besides the Golan Heights civilian airspace reopening, Israel appears ready to engage a possible attack from the north by keeping on the alert its divisions in the area.

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