But Arab officials said the strike, the first on a Syrian target since 1996, constituted an unwarranted and potentially destabilizing aggression by Israel.

The almost daily attacks are apparently intended to provoke Israel into a retaliatory strike at Syrian targets on the premise that Syria is the responsible power in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces felt that retaliation was warranted and chose a Syrian military target near the village of Nuqeib.

The bombing of Syrian military targets in Lebanon on Monday could actually be seen as an "improvement" in the Israeli acts of aggression against Lebanon.

Immediately after this second incident in Hatay, artillery of the Turkish 3rd Border Battalion stationed in Yayladağı fired on Syrian military targets.

It could spill over into Syria, which might jump at the chance to confront Israel if Israeli officials follow up on their veiled threats to hit Syrian targets.

These missile are believed to be possible to used as a deterrent against any further Israeli airstrikes on Syrian targets.

An Israeli cabinet member said this week that Israel was seriously considering hitting Syrian targets, and acknowledged: "The magnitude of the conflict may be a huge one."

Generals vowed to retaliate against incoming rockets or artillery from Hezbollah guerrillas with strikes against Syrian military targets deep inside Lebanon.

Before Secretary Powell's visit, Hezbollah had been shelling Israel almost daily, evidently seeking to provoke Israel into a retaliatory attack against Syrian targets.