Syria building more missiles, but unlikely to attack against Israel: defense official

Syria is producing more rockets and preparing its army for possible armed conflict with Israel, but is unlikely to initiate an attack, a senior Israeli defense official said Saturday.

In an alliance with Iran, Syria also continues to help arm the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, despite a U.N. arms embargo, and supports the violent Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Defense Ministry adviser Amos Gilad told Israel Radio.

Gilad spoke a day after U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria and Iran to do more to prevent arms smuggling to Lebanon, citing "disturbing reports" from the Lebanese and Israeli governments of alleged violations of the U.N. arms embargo.

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