The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, says Syria has detained four Arabs allegedly recruited by Israel to kill Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal.
Speaking Tuesday in Lebanon, a Hamas spokesman said the four detainees are members of an Arab security service from an unidentified Middle East country. The Syrian government has not commented.
Khaled Meshaal is widely viewed as Hamas' overall leader, since Israel assassinated two other top Hamas figures earlier this year.
The latest Hamas charges come more than a month after Israel promised to restart an assassination campaign targeting Palestinian militants at home and abroad. Israel announced the new assassination push days after Hamas suicide bombers struck two buses in southern Israel, killing 16 people.