Syria is ready for all possibilities in the absence of peace and Israel is playing the "drums of war" in the region, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Sunday (May 23) as Israel launched its biggest air raid exercise to test its preparedness against possible missile strikes. "These manoeuvres are not new. They are the sixth that Israel is doing in five months and Israel is beating the drums of war in the region. The question is: Is Israel ready for peace or war?," Moallem said at a news conference.
"You know that we, in Syria, are ready for peace and the implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council and the concept of peace in exchange of land. But we have to be aware, in the absence of real peace, of all the available possibilities," added Moallem during the joint news conference with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle, who was visiting Damascus on Sunday.
Israel launched its biggest air raid exercise on Sunday to test its preparedness against possible missile strikes from Iranian-sponsored militant groups as international tensions rose over Tehran's nuclear programme.
The manoeuvres also follow Israel's allegations in April that Syria is arming Hezbollah guerrillas with long-range Scud missiles.
"Even if we offered this missile to Hezbollah, Hezbollah would not take it because it does not fit the Fedayeen war it is leading," Moallem said.
He added: "As long as there is occupation and as long as there is a situation of war, Syria will not be a policeman for Israel".
Israeli officials said the exercises would focus on municipal authorities' responses to a scenario in which missiles were launched from the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas Islamists, and by Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Both are allies of Iran.
In public remarks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Israel's biggest civil defence exercise as a routine, protective move and said the government sought only "quiet, stability and peace".
The air raid sirens will sound on Wednesday (May 26) nationwide in a signal to Israelis to take cover in shelters or designated secure areas for 10 minutes, and much of the public is expected to take part in this drill.
In a test of an emergency warning system, the military's Home Front Command will also send text messages that read "Have a nice day" to cellphone owners in certain areas of the country, the army said in a statement, to test communications.
Rescue services will be put on a practice emergency footing, while a partial distribution of gas masks is also planned, in addition to air raid drills to be held at schools and hospitals.
