Report: Israel threatens to assassinate Syria’s Assad

Israel has threatened to assassinate Syrian leader Bashar Assad if he instigates or sanctions any kind of attack on the Jewish state, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported on Tuesday.

The threat was reportedly conveyed to Assad via Turkey.

According to the newspaper, Israeli intelligence has become concerned over unusual troop and missile deployments in Syria, movements that could signal an imminent attack on the Jewish state.

Israeli experts have speculated that Assad could attack Israel in order to divert attention from his security forces’ brutal and bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activsts in Syria. Or, Assad could turn to his Hizballah allies in Lebanon to do his dirty work.

Either way, Israel will hold Assad personally responsible.

There is also concern that if Assad sees his regime falling, he could launch one final assault on Israel to secure a lasting legacy for himself.