[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: It remains unclear why three United States
officials would want to put Mr. Assad in a position that would compel him to
make good on his threats to attack Israel if Israel were to strike Syria. If
this move to suck Israel into a bloody mess wasn't sanction by the Commander
in Chief, one can expect to learn of the early retirements of three
Americans in the very near future. This Iranian story indicates that Syria
isn't particularly interested in taking its marching orders from
Washington.]

Damascus denies Israeli raids on Latakia
The Tehran-based Al Alam International News Channel Saturday, July 13,
2013 - 16:19 GMT
http://www.alalam.ir/news/1494530
[Translation from Arabic]

The Al Alam International News Channel correspondent in Damascus reports
that Damascus denies Israeli raids on Latakia.

Official Syrian sources Syria deny what U.S. sources told CNN.

CNN reported that the series of explosions that occurred in the port of
Latakia on the fifth of this month was the result of air strikes launched by
aircraft Israeli warplane. The American station quoted three officials who
refused to reveal their names, that the aim of the raid was Russian made
anti-ship missiles that Israel believed posed a threat to their naval
forces.