Head of Military Intelligence Research
Division: Considerable Russian support for the Assad regime • On
average, 1,000 people are killed in Syria every week • More than 1,000
tons of chemical weapons in Syria, plus missiles with warheads.
A man is treated at a
hospital in Aleppo, Syria, following an alleged chemical weapons attack
in March
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Photo credit: Reuters |
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The Syrian regime has used lethal chemical
weapons, mostly sarin gas, against armed rebels several times in the
past few weeks, and is continuing to do so, the head of the Israel
Defense Forces Military Intelligence Research Branch, Brig. Gen. ltay
Baron, said on Monday.
Baron said that photographs showing victims with foam coming out of their mouths and contracted pupils were signs that deadly gas had been used.
Baron said that photographs showing victims with foam coming out of their mouths and contracted pupils were signs that deadly gas had been used.
Speaking at the Institute for National
Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Baron confirmed that "to the best of its
[the IDF’s] knowledge," weapons of mass destruction had definitely been
used by the Syrian regime, a development which the United States and
others say they are still trying to determine.
In his briefing, Baron said the lack of an
"appropriate international response" to the Syrian regime's use of
chemical weapons was "very worrying" and was leading Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad and his forces to believe that there were no
consequences to their use of WMDs.
"It could signal to them that their use of chemical weapons is legitimate," Baron said.
Last week, U.S. officials said that American
intelligence officials were looking into the possibility that chemical
weapons may have been used in Syria in a limited form, although there is
no consensus yet and additional analysis is required. President Barack
Obama has defined use of chemical weapons as a "red line" that would
trigger unspecified U.S. action.
Baron said 1,000 people were killed on average
in Syria every week, and that since the uprising began some two years
ago the death total has reached 70,000, with some 1 million displaced
Syrians.
"There are more than 1000 tons of chemical
weapons in Syria, plus missiles with warheads. It is a massive arsenal.
The regime has already made use of some of these weapons. The fact that
there has already been use of chemical weapons without an appropriate
international response is very worrying. The possibility that non-state
actors, who do not make the same cost-benefit calculations as states do,
get their hands on these weapons is also very worrying," Baron said.
Baron added that Russia was supporting Assad
by delivering to his forces sophisticated air defense systems like the
SA-17 anti-aircraft missile battery.
Baron's comments were preceded a day earlier
by strong statements from Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Benny Gantz.
"Strangely, there is considerable Russian support for the Assad regime," Gantz said at the INSS on Monday.
"Assad is losing control and destabilizing
elements are growing. Iran and Hezbollah are in up to their necks and
higher in an effort to preserve ... the Assad regime and in preparations
for the day after [Assad falls]."
Gantz warned that four decades of quiet along
the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights could be in danger. He said
the civil war in Syria could result in "chaos," with violence turning
toward Israel.
Baron, in his Monday briefing, said it was
quite likely that Syria would fragment as a state into differing and
unstable parts, a possibility that would present serious challenges to
Israeli security.
There have been a number of recent incidents
of cross-border fire from Syria into Israel, some intentional and some
accidental. In several of the incidents, the IDF responded by the
targeting the sources of the fire.
Speaking about the Gaza Strip, Gantz said
Israel would not accept a return to the reality that existed before
Operation Pillar of Defense last November. He said the IDF would not
hesitate to act to re-establish deterrence against Gaza terrorist
groups, if necessary.
On the situation in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula,
Gantz said he hoped Egypt would continue its recent efforts to thwart
the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and restore security in the Sinai
region.
"I hope Egypt will become a more stable place
and that what took place as a political change won't turn into a
security challenge for us," Gantz said, referring to political
developments in Egypt in recent years.
Gantz called for continued international pressure on Iran over its
nuclear program and its global terror activities. He said Iran was
continuing to take advantage of talks with international powers to
further develop its nuclear program.
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