Israel renewed on Wednesday its threat to attack Iranian military targets in Syria, after the two allies signed an accord on security cooperation.
The "defense and technical agreement" provides for the continued "presence and participation" of Iran in Syria, according to Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami, who has visited Damascus.
But Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said on public radio that “the accord concluded by (the head of the Syrian regime) Bashar Assad and Iran constitutes a test for Israel: Our response will be loud and clear."
"We will not allow Iran to establish itself militarily in Syria," he warned.
"We will react in Syria with all our might against any Iranian target that threatens Israel, and if the Syrian army's air defense intervenes against us, it will pay the price."
Like Hatami, Iran's military attache to Damascus said Tuesday that his country's military advisers would remain in Syria under the defense agreement signed the previous day.
"Support for Syria's territorial integrity and the independence of Syrian sovereignty were also emphasized in the agreement," Brig.-Gen. Abolghasem Alinejad said.
Tehran has provided steady political, financial and military backing to Assad.
