'Butcher' Assad Must Go, Says Israel's Lieberman

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Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says Syrian President Bashar Assad is a 'butcher' who should be thrown out of the country along with his Iranian allies.

"In my personal opinion, Assad is a butcher who massacred and murdered people," Lieberman told a conference of Jews from the former Soviet Union, on Thursday night.

"I think that in the end it is in our interest that he and the Iranians be thrown out of Syria," he said in an audio clip of the conference in the Red Sea resort of Eilat released by his office.

Assad has the support of Lebanon's Hizbullah movement and, since last year, the Russian air force. 

Hizbullah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006, has sent thousands of its fighters to support Syrian government troops.

More than 310,000 people have been killed since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, and over half the population has been displaced, with millions becoming refugees.

"From a moral point of view we cannot accept such a massacre in front of the eyes of the entire world, with chemical weapons," Lieberman said.

Israel has sought to limit its involvement in the  conflict, but has carried out sporadic sorties against Hizbullah inside Syria.

Several Israeli missiles struck near the Mazzeh airbase near Damascus last week without causing any casualties, Syrian state media reported. 

The target was symbolic. It houses the headquarters of the feared air force intelligence service, a bedrock of Assad's rule.

It was the second time in eight days that Israel had targeted positions outside Damascus.

Speaking to EU ambassadors on Wednesday, Lieberman spoke of his country's defense policy.

"We are working first and foremost to ensure the security of our citizens and defend our sovereignty and we are trying to prevent the smuggling of advanced weapons, military equipment and weapons of mass destruction from Syria to Hizbullah," he said, according to a statement from his office.

Last week's missile strikes were carried out from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.

Comments 10
Thumb justice over 8 years

and you are one of the heretics of wilayat al faqih

Missing peace over 8 years

don't worry, this is just a declaration for his sheep... israel needs assad to keep the golan.... assad is israel's best ally!

Missing peace over 8 years

assad never shot a single bullet to liberate the golan for 40 years, but nice propaganda try minushabib...

Thumb Mystic over 8 years

Hey peace salafi, how many bullets does the takfiris controlling Golan fire at Israel?
Israel is afraid that the border fall into the hands of the Resistance, that is the reason they keep taking in wounded salafis and sending them back through the Syrian border.

Your biggest ally in this war now, is Israel.

Missing peace over 8 years

hey miss tic: answer the question: how many bullets did the brave syrian army fire to liberate the golan since 1973? => none!

why each time the rebels fire from there, assad's army bombs the rebels but not the israelis? LOL

so please spare us your resistance BS as assad never resisted to take back the golan... he keeps it peaceful to satisfy thier israeli ally...

Thumb Mystic over 8 years

Isn't it amusing how the Israels use the words "Butcher" about Assad just like you zionist slaves do about him?

Already here it is clear to see your alliance, both morale and physical support for the jews.

Missing peace over 8 years

isn't it amusing to see how you never answer questions when you are cornered but always deflect them! LOL

and i love your argument because i use the same word as they do therefore i m zionist! pityful brainless chimp you are..

so if you use the word hamburger it means you are american! LOL

Thumb chrisrushlau over 8 years

That might be, or Liebermann is just a comic. More likely the latter. You have to have a stong, oversized even, sense of irony to be a major official in a racist regime in the 21st Century.

Thumb Mystic over 8 years

It is funny how you phalangist salafi supporters acts like that, when you were their biggest supporters during the civil war.

Zionist lovers, good thing SSNP broke your back.
The resistance will make sure Israel stays out too.

Missing peace over 8 years

lol