Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Syria has reported finding evidence of Israeli
intelligence monitoring in the war-torn country.

Israeli monitoring device at a critical facility in Syria. The state-owned
media said the device was an Israeli-made spy camera that monitored what was
termed a “sensitive site” along the Mediterranean coast.

“The system’s components were camouflaged so as to blend with the
geographic nature of the area, indicating that the system included a camera, antennas, six batteries and an electrical regulator, in addition to cables connecting basic parts,” a Syrian official said.

The unidentified official said in a statement on March 7 that the
Israeli monitoring device was discovered on March 1. The official said the device was designed to transmit images through satellites.

Syrian television said the device, which resembled purported Israeli
equipment found in Lebanon, was surrounded by fake stones to conceal
the monitoring gear. The report said Sunni rebels also received information relayed by the device.

Israel has refused to respond to the report. Israeli Foreign Ministry
spokesman Yigal Palmor said Jerusalem would not be dragged into the revolt
against Assad, which began in 2011.

The Assad regime this marked the latest of several Israeli intelligence
operations in Syria. The statement said Syrian authorities found Israeli
spying devices along the Mediterranean coast, which contains an Iranian and
Russian military presence.

“Earlier, competent authorities had discovered Israeli spying devices at
a certain point in the coastal region which were designed for tapping,
imaging, recording and transmitting data,” the statement said.