GAZA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian movements of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad condemned on Thursday the Israeli military escalation against Syria.
"Israel's escalation in Syria proves that it is the main enemy and the greatest threat to the nation and the source of terrorism in the region," Hamas movement, which rules Gaza, said in a statement.
The movement added that Arab and Islamic countries have the right to defend their territories and respond strongly to any aggression.
"It requires gathering all the nation's capabilities to deter the enemy, break its arrogance, and thwart its plans aimed at the Palestinian cause and the nation's wealth," according to Hamas statement.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad said in a statement that "the Israeli hand which tries to hit us as Arabs and Muslims must be cut off."
The movement blessed the Syrian response to the Israeli raids and considered it a "natural and predictable response," asserting that it will be at the forefront of confrontation with Israel.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) organized a protest in Gaza City, during which the participants raised Syrian flags and banners in solidarity with Damascus.
Deputy Secretary-General of the PFLP Abu Ahmed Fouad called for forming a joint operation room including "the Palestinian resistance factions" in the face of Israel.
Fouad said in a statement published on the website of the PFLP that his group is ready to join any battle against Israel.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) also condemned the Israeli "aggression" against Syria and considered it an attempt to drag the region into a new war that deepens the chaos and disorder.
In a statement, the Front called on the international community to "shoulder its responsibilities and intervene to deter Israel's aggressive policy."
Military sources in Syria said the Syrian air defenses responded to dozens of Israeli missiles, but some of the missiles hit their targets and destroyed one radar station.
Meanwhile, Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Thursday that the Israeli airstrike on Syria destroyed most of Iran's military infrastructure in the country.
He reiterated that the Israeli strikes came after Iranian al-Quds forces in Syria fired a barrage of rockets towards Israeli military posts in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
A military statement said the attack targeted Iranian military sites, including Iranian intelligence sites, logistics headquarters belonging to al-Quds forces, a military logistics compound in al-Kiswah, south of Damascus, an Iranian military compound north of Damascus, munition storage warehouses of al-Quds at the Damascus International Airport, intelligence systems and posts associated with al-Quds, observation and military posts and munition in the buffer zone.
In addition, the Iranian launcher from which the rockets were launched at Israel was also destroyed.
It was the largest military attack that Israel has carried out in Syria in the recent years.
The military said it "will not allow the Iranian threat to establish itself in Syria. The Syrian regime will be held accountable for everything happening in its territory."
Israel has been threatening for months that it will not allow an Iranian military presence in the territory of its northern war-torn neighbor.
Israel was blamed for several recent deadly air attacks in Syria that killed Iranians. Israel did not officially acknowledge it was behind these attacks but it has been making preparations for possible Iranian retaliation for weeks.
In addition, during the eight-year war in Syria, Israel's military has responded to numerous spillovers of fire from the internal fighting near the disputed border in the Golan Heights by attacking Bashar al-Assad's army positions.
U.S. President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal on Tuesday has sparked more tensions.
