On 28 April 1981, Israeli planes downed two Syrian helicopters which were in the process of carrying troops to strengthen the Syrian army units in the Zahle area where they were in the midst of an attack on Lebanese Christian units. In a radio interview that night, the Prime Minister declared that Israel cannot "acquiesce in that attempt of the Syrians to take over Lebanon, to control that country, and to destroy the Christians." Text:
Of course, we did not want to go into any military action against the Syrians. We proved it for years, not only for months or for the past few weeks. But the situation, as it was created in the last few days, is as follows:
The Syrians opened an offensive, killing men, women and children by the hundreds and maiming thousands, encircling Zahle from all sides. There is no water, no bread, no hospitalization for wounded people. They opened that offensive, in order, actually to overpower Lebanon, to conquer Lebanon and to liquidate the Christians. And lately they tried to take over the Lebanese Mountain, which is an outpost of the Christians for all the years since the Syrian occupation army came into Lebanon and the Syrians never touched them. But lately, in the last few days, they started to do so, namely to conquer the Lebanese Mountain. If they should have achieved that end, they can bombard from that mountain the Jouniah harbor, and Jouniah harbour is the only one at the disposal of the Christians. This is the gravest danger for the last five years which looms over the Christians. They face now the danger of being destroyed, and we said time and again that we have a moral obligation not to let the Christians be destroyed. And therefore we today held a consultation of our defence council, we took decisions and we defend the Christians, as we are morally obliged. And of course we cannot acquiesce in that attempt of the Syrians to take over Lebanon, to control that country and to destroy the Christians.
Q: Mr. Prime Minister, Israel aircraft today shot down a Syrian helicopter...
A: Two. Two Syrian helicopters.
Q: But is this an indication of change in Israel's policy? That Israel aircraft are now going to go after Syrian armed forces in Lebanon and over Lebanon?
A: You can say that there is of course a certain change, but we do it again for those defensive purposes, namely: to save and defend the Christians from the danger of utter destruction. We did not want those clashes with the Syrian helicopters. But those helicopters came from Damascus, then they land somewhere, and then they go up to the mountains and try to kill all the Christians there and take over. And therefore this is a defensive action by our air force.