Damascus threatens to retaliate after Israeli attack

Early reports indicated that an arms convoy bound for militant group Hezbollah had been struck, but Syrian state TV claimed a weapons facility was hit in the attack early on Wednesday morning.

Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul-Karim Ali said Damascus "has the option and the capacity" to retaliate.

Israel's military refused to comment but MP Tzachi Hanegbi, an ally of hard-line PM Benjamin Netanyahu, hinted that Israel may carry out more such attacks.

He added that "pinpoint operations" may not be enough to deal with the "threats."

US officials claimed the target had been a weapons convoy taking anti-aircraft guns to Islamist group Hezbollah, which has close links to Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah called the attack "barbaric aggression" but did not mention the alleged convoy.

It said the strike was aimed at preventing Arab forces from developing military capabilities.

New anti-aircraft weapons could be used against drones spying on the organisation.

But Syria's military denied there had been a weapons shipment, saying a scientific research facility about 10 miles from the border was hit.

An army defector said the site was "major and well-known" and used to develop weapons, often with the help of Russian and Iranian experts.

The army said two people were killed and five hurt.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was still trying to work out what had happened.

"If this information is confirmed, we have a case of unprovoked attacks on targets in the territory of a sovereign state, which grossly violates the UN charter and is unacceptable.

"Whatever the motives, this is not justified."