Syrian diplomat blames Israel for violence
Syria’s vice president blamed Israel for the escalating violence in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories Wednesday and denied that his country had a role in the abductions of Israeli soldiers. Farouk al-Sharaa said Israel was to blame for the seizures of the soldiers, two of whom were captured Wednesday by Hezbollah militants who crossed into Israel from Lebanon. A soldier was also taken by the Palestinian militant group Hamas last month. Full Story