Assad, Lebanon to blame for Hezbollah border attack on IDF soldiers, Netanyahu says

“Whoever is behind today’s attack will pay the full price,” premier said during consultations with defense chiefs.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Israel carries out heavy shelling in Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday fingered Lebanon and Syrian President Bashar Assad as responsible for Hezbollah’s anti-tank missile strike on an IDF patrol convoy near the Lebanese border.
The premier warned that those responsible for Wednesday’s attack that killed two soldiers and wounded seven others along Israel’s northern border would pay a heavy price.
“Whoever is behind today’s attack will pay the full price,” he said.
He spoke at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv just before he held security consultations with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and ISA Director Yoram Cohen and other defense officials.
“For some time, Iran – via Hezbollah – has been trying to establish an additional terrorist front against us from the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu said.
 “We are taking strong and responsible action against this attempt,” he said.
“The Lebanese government and the Assad regime share responsibility for the consequences of the attacks emanating from their territories against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
“In all of these events, our mission is to defend the State of Israel. Our only consideration is the security of the State of Israel and its citizens. Thus we have acted and thus we will continue to act,” he said.
Netanyahu added, “I would like to send condolences to the families of the fallen and my best wishes for a full recovery to our wounded soldiers.”