Lebanon's Foreign Ministry: Israeli Aggression Must Stop

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday condemning the Israeli raids against Syria and affirmed Damascus' “legitimate right to defend itself against any Israeli attack,” the National News Agency reported.

The statement said “Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has given instructions to the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York to lodge a complaint with the Security Council against Israel warning against the use of Lebanese airspace to launch attacks against Syria.”

“Such an aggressive policy by Israel threatens stability in the region,” the statement added. “Therefore, the ministry asks the countries concerned to rein in Israel to stop its aggression.”

On Saturday, Syria state media said its air defenses repelled an Israeli raid on a military base in the center of the country, hitting more than one warplane.

The report came after the Israeli military said one of its fighter jets had crashed during strikes against "Iranian targets" in Syria after intercepting a drone.

Remnants of the strikes were found in Lebanon's Hasbani valley and the Bekaa village of Sarin.

Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on the Syrian armed forces and their allies since the civil war broke out in 2011.

Iran with Russia is the main military backer of the Damascus government.

Israel has largely confined its operations to targeting Hizbullah, the Lebanese group that is a key ally of Iran.