Israel Tracking Chemical Weapons from Inside Syria, Report Says By Jspace Staff on 12/10/2012 at 11:27 AM Categories:
World,
Israel 
Israel is facing growing concern that the
Syrian civil war could mean the use of
chemical warfare, and a special forces unit is tracking the possibility from the inside.
The news broke with a Sunday Times article yesterday, using unnamed sources close to the situation as well as other defense and intelligence experts.
“For years we’ve known the exact location of Syria’s chemical and biological munitions,” an Israeli source told the Sunday Times. “But in the past week we’ve got signs that munitions have been moved to new locations.”
Syrian rebel forces also released a video over the weekend showing victims of chemical attacks, though the authenticity of the video has not yet been verified. The rebels also claimed to have captured the entire borderland with Israel, leading UN officials to announce it would reinforce security in the Golan Heights to prevent violent spill over.
"We and the US…have seen some evidence of that and that is why we have issued strong warnings about it. We have done so directly to the Syrian regime," British Foreign Secretary
William Hague told the AFP. "We absolutely cannot be specific about [the evidence] because clearly those are intelligence sources that these things come from."
It is not known how extensive Syria’s chemical arsenal might be, as it has never been subject to inspection. The nation is thought to possess mustard gas and nerve agents like sarin, which suffocates victims by paralyzing nerves around the lungs.
Still, some experts point out these weapons are likely decades old, dating back to Syrian leader
Bashar al-Assad’s father’s regime some 40 years ago.
"Frankly, you'd stand as much chance of committing a self-inflicted wound as of actually killing opponents,"
Aram Nerguizian, a Mideast security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Israel Hayom. "These systems are not going to achieve the end state that the regime wants, which is regime survival."
Analysts note two distinct possibilities concerning Syria’s chemical weaponry. One, Assad could use his arsenal in a last ditch attempt to regain control of the region. Or, the weapons could fall into the hands of an outlying terrorist group.
The US has warned tough repercussions should Syria decide to use chemical warfare, which could mean military involvement. Anonymous sources said over the weekend the US is already conducting a training drill in Jordan, and Pentagon Press Secretary
George Little said Friday, “We’re prepared for the full range of contingencies.”
"I think the big problem is when and if Assad loses control of his weapons and sites," said
David Friedman, former head of the Israel Defense Forces chemical-biological protection division. "Then, of course, weapons might fall into opposition hands and they might use it. This is a real danger and threat."
Still, Syria’s deputy foreign minister said last week his nation would not resort to a chemical attack.
"We cannot possibly commit suicide," said
Faisal Mekdad. "Syria is a responsible country."
Tags:
Israel,
IDF,
William Hague,
Bashar al-Assad,
chemical warfare,
Syria
