For the last two decades, Syria has been strutting around and insisting that they were Lebanon's protectors from Israel. Their justification for turning Lebanon into a Syrian colony was that they were Lebanon's big brothers, and that they would come to Lebanon's aid in case of an Israeli attack. Well, now Israel is attacking - and Syria has to either slink back home with its tail between its legs or attack the IDF. Arab pride being what it is, they can't just admit "you know, starting a potential world war seems like a steep price to pay just so that we don't look stupid for making up excuses to meddle in Lebanese affairs." So Syria is committed to at least a confrontation with Israel's military.

Syria will enter the Israeli-Hizbullah conflict if Israeli ground troops enter Lebanon and approach Syria, Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said in an interview published on Sunday. "If Israel invades Lebanon over ground and comes near to us, Syria will not sit tight. She will join the conflict," He told newspaper ABC.