Naharnet

Report: Israeli Concern over Transfer of Scuds to Hizbullah from Syria

Israeli officials are concerned that Hizbullah will try to move sophisticated weaponry, including Scud missiles, from Syria to Lebanon to protect them in the event of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s downfall, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Syria is believed to have allocated a number of Scud D missiles – the most advanced missile in its arsenal – to Hizbullah already in 2010 but they have been stored in bases in Syria, it said.

Israeli officials believed that the missiles would only be transferred to Lebanon in the event of a war with Israel but now that Syria is in the midst of an uprising, there is concern that the Lebanese party might try to move them to prevent rebels or other rogue elements from putting their hands on.

“If this happens and Israel becomes aware of the transfer, the (Israeli) government will have to decide if it should attack and intercept the transfer or ignore it to prevent such a strike from escalating into an all-out war with Hizbullah and Syria,” said The Jerusalem Post.

Syrian Scud Ds have a range of about 700 km. and can carry non-conventional warheads, it warned.


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