If Israel were to attack Hizbullah in Lebanon, Syria would respond and not sit idly by, the Katari Al Watan newspaper quoted Syrian sources as saying in a report published Wednesday.

The sources reportedly added that Damascus considered any threat to Lebanon's security and stability as a threat to Syria's security.

The paper reported that Damascus was worriedly taking notice of "Israeli deployment and maneuvers along the northern border," and that Syrian leadership assessed Israel was planning a military operation in Lebanon in May.

US officials have notified the Lebanese government that if it does not manage to unarm Hizbullah, "Israel plans to invade the country all the way to Beirut," the Syrian sources told the newspaper.

According to Al Watan, the sources said that "this is a message to both Syria and Lebanon."

[link to www.jpost.com]