Egypt condemns Israeli airstrikes against Syria, warns they complicate ongoing civil war

In this image taken from video obtained from Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, smoke and fire fill the skyline over Damascus, Syria, early Sunday, May 5, 2013 after an Israeli airstrike. Israeli warplanes struck areas in and around the Syrian capital Sunday, setting off a series of explosions as they targeted a shipment of highly accurate, Iranian-made guided missiles believed to be on their way to Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, officials and activists said. The attack, the second in three days, signaled a sharp escalation of Israel's involvement in Syria's bloody civil war. Syria's state media reported that Israeli missiles struck a military and scientific research center near the Syrian capital and caused casualties. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) (The Associated Press)

CAIRO – Egypt's president has condemned Israel's airstrikes against Syria, calling them a violation of international law and warning they complicate the ongoing civil war in that country.

Sunday's statement Sunday from President Mohammed Morsi's office says Egypt "strongly objects" to the bloodshed and the use of Syria's military against its people. But it also rejects the violation of Syrian sovereignty and "exploiting its internal crisis under whatever pretext." It says the Israeli attacks "increase the complexity of the situation."

Egypt launched an Arab bid to bring a peaceful end to the 2-year-old civil war that pits President Bashar Assad against rebels trying to oust him, but little came of it.

Morsi's office says the Israeli attacks are a "real test" for the international community's commitment to respecting international law.

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