Jerusalem, Aug 1. (AP): Israel will target every vehicle carrying weapons from Syria into Lebanon, but is not trying to provoke a war with Syria, Israel's defence minister said today.

"There is no plan to initiate a war with Syria," Defence Minister Amir Peretz said. "We are closely following what is happening there. We will target every vehicle carrying weapons from Syria into Lebanon, but there is no intention to open a new front with Syria."

Israel has repeatedly accused Syria of allowing Iranian-made weapons to be shipped through its territory to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. However, Israeli leaders have reiterated they don't want to draw Syria into the fighting.

Haim Ramon, a senior Israli Cabinet minister, accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of being "an aide to Hezbollah."

"He (Asad) is daily sendng trucks full of weapons to help the Hezbollah," Ramon told Israel's Army Radio.