JERUSALEM – Israel on Wednesday renewed its threat to attack Iranianmilitary targets in Syria, after the two Muslim allies signed an accord onsecurity cooperation.

“The accord concluded by (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad and Iranconstitutes a test for Israel: Our response will be loud and clear,”Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said on Israeli public radio.

“We will not allow Iran to establish itself militarily in Syria,” he said.

“We will react in Syria with all our might against any Iranian target thatthreatens Israel, and if the Syrian army´s air defence intervenes againstus, it will pay the price.”

Iran´s military attache to Damascus said Tuesday that his country´smilitary advisers would remain in Syria under the defence agreement signedthe previous day.

“Support for Syria´s territorial integrity and the independence of Syriansovereignty were also emphasised in the agreement,” Brigadier-GeneralAbolghasem Alinejad said.

Tehran has provided steady political, financial and military backing toAssad as he has fought back against a seven-year uprising.

Israel has sought to avoid direct involvement in the conflict butacknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes in Syria to stop what itsays are deliveries of advanced weaponry to its Lebanese enemy Hezbollah.

It has also pledged to prevent its arch foe Iran from entrenching itselfmilitarily in Syria and a series of strikes that have killed Iranians inSyria have been attributed to Israel. – APP/AFP