Syria May Call on U.N. After Alleged Clash With Israel

United Nations – Syria may soon ask the Security Council to convene to address an alleged violation of its air space by Israel. The Syrian activation of the world body, when it occurs, would follow threats by Damascus officials to "respond" to what they called Israel's "flagrant aggressive act."

A Russian diplomat, who asked not to be named, called the alleged incident "a very worrisome situation." But the diplomat added he knew of no plans yet to convene the Security Council. Diplomats from other permanent members of the council, including France, which holds the rotating presidency, also said no request has reached them to convene the council.

Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar al-Jaafari, told reporters here that "most likely" he would ask the council to convene this afternoon. He added that he is awaiting instructions from Damascus before making the request, most likely through Qatar, the Arab member of the council, or Russia, which is Syria's closest ally among the council's five permanent members.

Earlier today, a Syrian spokesman said the country's defenses had opened fire on Israeli aircraft after they violated Syrian airspace. The Israelis flew over northern Syria and "dropped ammunition," the spokesman told the official Syrian Arab News Agency, according to the Associated Press.

"Air defense units confronted them and forced them to leave after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas without causing any human or material damage," the spokesman was quoted as saying. "We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act, and retain the right to respond in an appropriate way."

Prime Minister Olmert, who made a long public address yesterday to activists of his ruling party, Kadima, refrained from addressing the reported incident in Syria. When asked about it by Israeli reporters, he said, "I don't know what you are talking about." An army spokesman said later in a statement that Israel would not comment.

In Israel, several analysts raised doubts yesterday that the Syrian threats would amount to war, but they added that Damascus is likely to use the alleged incident to pressure Israel in the international arena. This pressure would most likely to begin in the council, which has passed several resolutions this summer that might lead to indictments of Syrian officials who are suspected of involvement with the 2005 assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri.