Last night Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip to try and force the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit who is being held prisoner by a Palestinian militant group. Today Israeli airplanes flew over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s house in an effort to get Syria to put pressure on the Palestinians to release Cpl. Shalit.
The mission was the latest in a dramatic series of events raising tensions in the Middle East, including Israeli military raids into Gaza, where Cpl. Gilad Shalit was believed to be held captive by groups linked with Syria.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Israeli planes had flown over the Syrian president’s country home and Israeli television reported al-Assad was at home at the time.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres has complained that Syria allowed Hamas political leaders based in Damascus to order Shalit’s kidnapping.
Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon told Army Radio Wednesday that Israel sought to assassinate Hamas’ Syria-based political chief, Khalid Meshaal, according to The Associated Press.
Syria’s response?
Syria says its air defenses fired at Israeli jets flying over the president’s house, forcing them to flee, The Associated Press reports.
How far is this going to go?