Israeli Fighter Jets Strike Inside Syria

Israeli jets have struck a target inside Syria for the first time in more than five years, reports the New York Times and Reuters. Reports are conflicting on what they hit: Syria says the jets struck a scientific research center, but sources tell Reuters they hit a convoy of trucks bound for Lebanon with weapons. CNN agrees, reporting that the trucks were carrying sophisticated missile weaponry. Israel, as per usual in situations like this, isn't saying a word one way or the other.

"This episode boils down to a warning by Israel to Syria and Hezbollah not to engage in the transfer of sensitive weapons," says one of Reuters' sources. "Assad knows his survival depends on his military capabilities and he would not want those capabilities neutralized by Israel—so the message is this kind of transfer is simply not worth it, neither for him nor Hezbollah." (More Syria stories.)