THE shock revelation of an alleged Iranian base in Syria, close to the Israeli border, holding up to 80,000 fighters has threatened to push the world closer to an outbreak of conflict, according to expert commentators on the BBC.
In response, Israel insisted the country would launch a military strike to prevent Tehran from launching a ground invasion across the nearby border.
Ambassador Danny Danon presented the aerial photograph on Thursday, telling the UN Security Council: “There are over 80,000 extremists from all over the Middle East who are members of Shia militias in Syria under Iranian control.
“It is at this base, just over five miles from Damascus, where these dangerous extremists are trained and then assigned their missions of terror throughout Syria and the region.”
Speaking on the BBC panel show Dateline, Alex Deane, a British Conservative commentator, claimed an Iranian ground invasion could not be ruled out.
He said: “80,000 so far is not a small manoeuvre, that tens of thousands of troops.
“People don’t want the Iranian regime to be the next North Korea, empowered by nuclear capabilities to reinforce itself and stop conventional intervention with nuclear retaliation.”
Israel insisted that the country would unleash a military strike to prevent Tehran from attacking
“There are 80,000 Iranian forces scattered around Syria, and Israel is rightfully concerned. Iran is trying to control Damascus as much as Beirut.
There are growing tensions between Western powers and Iran, ahead of 12th May deadline set by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal.
Mr Trump has vowed to never let Iran have nuclear weapons, but refused to say if he would consider military force.
Agnes Poirier, from French broadcaster Marianne, warned of Iranian pressure of the Israel border
There are growing tensions between Western powers and Iran
Iran, Syria, Russia, and some US officials have all said Israel was responsible for the strike but Israeli officials have refused to comment on the matter.
Israeli officials have previously stated that they will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria, noting it as a “red line” for military action.
Earlier this week, Israel’s defense minister Avigdor Lieberman agreed that his country will strike Tehran if attacked by Iran.
He said: “We hear many Iranian threats but if they attack Tel Aviv, we will strike Tehran.”