US warns Zionist regime against keeping up strikes on Syria

The top US intelligence official warns Zionist regime against pushing ahead with its strikes on Syrian soil, saying such raids could promote a “conventional” response from Iran, which has sent a military advisory mission to the Arab state.

According to Press TV, speaking at a hearing of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Israel’s continued aerial assaults against Syria would increase the risk of Iran’s retaliation.

“We assess that Iran seeks to avoid a major armed conflict with Israel,” he said. “However, Israeli strikes that result in Iranian casualties increase the likelihood of Iranian conventional retaliation against Israel.”

Coats also raised concerns about what he called “the long-term trajectory of Iranian influence in the region and the risk that conflict will escalate.”

He further claimed that Iran pursues “permanent military bases” in Syria and probably wants to maintain a network of “fighters” there despite the Israeli aerial assaults.

The American official was presenting the views of the US Intelligence Community to the congressional committee as part of the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment.

Tehran has been offering military advisory assistance to the Syrian army at the request of the Damascus government. Iran has no operating forces in the Arab country and possesses no military base there.

The Israeli military launches air raids against various targets inside Syria against what it calls Iranian targets. Iran, however, has not confirmed those claims.

Zionist regime – which has been backing the terror groups operating against Damascus -- views Iranian advisors in Syria as a threat and has openly pledged to target them until they leave the Arab country.

ME