Syria: Israel strikes are a declaration of war

A strike on a military research facility Sunday was interpreted as an Israeli "declaration of war" on the Assad regime, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Mekdad told CNN. Faisal's comments came in response to reports that Israel carried out a second air strike in as many days on Syria. In an interview with CNN, Faisal said that Syria would respond in a manner of its own time and choosing. Syria's state television said the strikes were a response to recent military gains by President Bashar Assad's forces against rebels. "The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army," it said.Meanwhile, the IDF has deployed two Iron Dome batteries to northern cities due to regional tensions following air strikes in Damascus which Western sources have attributed to the Israel Air Force. Reuters contributed to this report. Click for full JPost coverage