February 3, 2013 - 16:27 AMT
Assad accuses Israel of destabilizing Syria

Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad has accused Israel of trying to "destabilize" his country, according to BBC News.

It was his first remarks on the reported Israeli air strike in Syria earlier this week. In a meeting with an Iranian official in the capital Damascus, he said Syria was able to confront "current threats... and aggression".

Syrian TV has shown images of the raid Damascus says Israeli jets carried out on a scientific research centre.

Israel has made no official comment on the attack, but remarks by Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday hinted that Israel was behind it. He told a meeting of top international diplomats and defense officials that the strike was "proof that when we say something we mean it".

Syria says Israeli fighter jets bombed a scientific research centre in Jamraya, north-east of Damascus, killing two and wounding five.

U.S. officials say lorries carrying weapons bound for Lebanon were the target.