US, Israel Monitor Suspected Syrian WMD

Washington: The US and Israel are closely monitoring Syria`s suspected cache of weapons of mass destruction, fearing that terror groups could take advantage of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad to seize chemical weapons and long range missiles. US intelligence services believe Syria`s non-conventional weapons programmes include significant stockpiles of mustard gas, VX and Sarin […]

27 Aug 2011 14:50 IST

Washington: The US and Israel are closely monitoring Syria`s suspected cache of weapons of mass destruction, fearing that terror groups could take advantage of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad to seize chemical weapons and long range missiles.

US intelligence services believe Syria`s non-conventional weapons programmes include significant stockpiles of mustard gas, VX and Sarin gas and the missile and artillery systems to deliver them.

"We are very concerned about the status of Syria`s WMD, including chemical weapons," Israel`s ambassador to the US Michael Oren said in an interview, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"Together with the US administration, we are watching this situation very carefully," he said.

The Washington and Tel Aviv are also concerned with worries that North Korea may have provide Syria with Nuclear related equipment.

The concerns comes in the wake of UN investigators recently concluding that Damascus had been secretly constructing a nuclear reactor with North Korean help before Israeli jets destroyed the site in late 2007.

Israel has historically held concerns about the fall of the Assad regime, which has largely kept the Syria-Israel border quiet for the past 40 years. Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu`s government has increasingly voiced support for democratic change in Damascus.

"We see a lot of opportunity emerging from the end of the Assad regime," Oren said.

A senior US official said Syria`s suspected chemical weapons arsenal "is of great importance and...under intense study."

Advertisment