Report: U.S. Concerned over 'Hizbullah Camps' Near Syria Chemical Weapons Depots
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
There is growing concern in the U.S. that Hizbullah has set up small training camps close to some of the chemical weapons depots in Syria, senior American officials said.
An alleged discovery that Hizbullah has established the camps close to some of the depots has renewed concern that as the chaos in Syria deepens, the country’s huge chemical weapons stockpiles could fall into “the wrong hands,” the officials told the New York Times.
Hizbullah fighters have been training at “a limited number of these sites,” said one senior American official who has been briefed on a U.S. Defense Department assessment that any military effort to seize the stockpiles of weapons would require more than 75,000 troops.
“But the fear these weapons could fall into the wrong hands is our greatest concern,” said the official.
So far, there is no evidence that Hizbullah, which is backed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, is making any effort to gain control over the chemical weapons, the New York Times said.
But some officials speculate that its alleged decision to train fighters close to the major chemical sites could be rooted in a bet that their camps will not be bombed if the West believes there is a risk of hitting the stockpiles.
Analysts expressed concern to the New York Times that if Assad is backed into a corner, he could use or threaten to use missiles tipped with chemical weapons against rebels, despite the threat of Western intervention if he did.
“There is credible information that the Assad regime has been upgrading and expanding its chemical weapons arsenal, which needs to be maintained,” said Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
16 November 2012, 07:56
1011
And no one thinks that "if" Hizbullah are present at such sites is because to protect them from not falling into the hands of FSA and other salafist al qaida terrorists? Distorting facts and twisting reality is only what the US is good at. And for sure Naharnet will not publish this bc they only publish what their own allies wish to say:)
16 November 2012, 16:51
66
You have that right benzona....as always the desperate for attention Farsi BSthrower throws in these guests out of the blue. Pathetic!
16 November 2012, 20:42
14
Ditt4 masstoule ente?? ouwet chou be3emel eyyem el harb: drugs, weapons, and stolen cars & prostitution rings...... Ze3ran No 1
rouh kol basterma
17 November 2012, 12:52
01
dourtnikbokhshakian > eyyem el harb kenitt eyyem el harb. Hizbullah is still doing it eyyem el selem. Shou? mastouli inti?
16 November 2012, 15:56
96
FT please. Everyone knows Hizbullah is just a clan who made most his money out of drugs, weapons, and stolen cars. Certain individuals you say!?
16 November 2012, 21:16
32
Here we go....manipulation (hijacking) of blog by the usual suspects. Pathetic. All of a sudden series of simultaneous DOWN votes on all posts that are ANTI-SCUM HA! But it's fine...we all can see that 95% of all posts are clearly against these scum terrorists!
16 November 2012, 08:15
86
What is the West waiting for to annihilate Hizbullah, Assad and Iran...? Get it over with, go in and wipe them out once and for all... Sooner or later hostilities against these three criminal entities will take place, so why wait for them to start firing their friggin rockets...
16 November 2012, 10:07
74
The US once again engaging in fear tactics. First there were the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that lead to invasion. There were none. Then it was nuclear weapons in Iran to implement onerous sanctions. There are none.
And now planting fear that Hezbollah will take these chemical weapons when the ere is no evidence that this is so. Look for another "no fly zone" coming soon. Like now lawless Libya was such a success.
16 November 2012, 11:20
98
eeeeeh. The Turkish plane was downed by Russian troops controlling the SAM site. Do you think Russia's stance will never change? You'd be a fool to believe so. I have Russian origins as well as Lebanese a perfectly know how putin works.
16 November 2012, 12:26
56
lol! just like kaddhaffi had the support of his people when a million demonstrated in tripoli... easy to have support when you force people to do so and if you don t you d be labelled as helping the rebels... lol mowaten, sweet dreams :)
16 November 2012, 12:28
65
Hezbollah and Hamas should learn how to use public relations. The world is watching and public opinion is a prime motivator in the strategy of the EU, US and Saudi Arabia. These actors need to control the messages to pursue their agendas.
Hezbollah and Hamas shouldn't be so prideful about their military and social strength as to not realize the power of public opinion. The world is turning against this imperialism and great leverage can be garnered if messages and actions are planned properly ...
16 November 2012, 13:19
67
Syrian air defense...some good that did them with the whole GOLAN being occupied and all...man do you hear yourself speak? Do you read what you type? Do you remember what happened to Syria's "air defense" over Lebanon?
16 November 2012, 17:01
73
mmckinl >>>> And now planting fear that Hezbollah will take these chemical weapons when the ere is no evidence that this is so...
Let me ask you a simple question: Do you think any military operation will hand deliver you on a silver plate evidence of such nature. Give me a break. Another question: Where do you think HA got it's 60K plus rockets and other sophisticated arsenal (ie: drone)? Did someone deliver you documents by DHL with the bill of lading? Damn some of you really have deep issues.
OF COURSE we should all be terrified that these Iranian terrorists will get their hands on these chemical weapons. In a heart-beat they will transfer as much of these deadly chemicals into Lebanon once they know Bashar is going down! They will add these to their existing Iranian made stockpile on Lebanese soil pointed towards Israel and will NOT one bit give a damn about using them and/or if the chemicals spread over Lebanon killing thousands! WAKE UP!
16 November 2012, 10:22
511
Third
Gringos shut up. You have destroyed too many lives, tfou
16 November 2012, 11:12
1310
Hezbollah wouldn't hesitate to fire chemicals weapons at the Israelis (not a big issue in itself) BUT one day or another, just like it happened on the 7th of May, the very same chemical weapons would be fired at Lebanese civilians.
In the end, anyone who doesn't like Israel, shouldn't like Hezbollah because they're their 'raison d'etre'. If we eliminate our threat, we push back the zionist threat at the same time.
All hail Lebanon.
16 November 2012, 13:55
48
Lek batikhhh ykasiiirrr ba3doo, nchallah Israel w Iran w Hezbollah w Hamas w Syria wel US bekasro ba3d... Bas 7ello 3ana ba2a
16 November 2012, 14:39
87
Hizballa is a terrorist organization and should be eliminated just like Al Quada and the leadership/Hassouna hunted down and eliminated like the terrorist ben laden...enough is enough...
16 November 2012, 15:02
32
What a story ,again the US talking Hizb up ,this will make a B grade movie
