Israel warns Syria possibly transferring weapons to Hizbullah

Israel will reportedly take the necessary measures to halt any attempt by the Syrian regime to transfer large amounts of highly developed weapons to “terrorist organizations” including Hizbullah as violence is mounting in the country. Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported on Tuesday that the escalating threat against President Bashar Assad’s regime is raising the Israeli officials’ concerns over the possibility of “terrorist groups” obtaining weapons from Syria. According to the officials, the weapons include advanced SA missiles, high-trajectory long-range rockets and missiles, and biological and chemical weapons. The officials noted that the “concern is greater now because Assad's forces seem to be losing their grip on the state. This could result in passing weapons to Hizbullah, or in radical Sunni factions taking over the arsenals.” Israel is considering attacking convoys carrying weapons from Syria to Lebanon, Haaretz said, however the daily added that these reports are still not confirmed by the Israeli officials. Speaking last week at the Herzliya Conference, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said: "It is difficult to predict exactly what will happen in Syria. We're watching for attempts to pass advanced weapons systems that could edge the delicate balance in Lebanon to Hizbullah." In January, head of the Israeli military's planning division Major-General Amir Eshel revealed that Israel has serious concerns about what will happen to "huge stockpiles" of chemical and biological weapons in Syria when the Assad regime collapses. "The question is when, not if. And the big question is what's going to come the day after," he said. The regime has spearheaded a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists seeking to overthrow Assad, who has vowed to remain in power, raising the specter of civil war between Syria's many religious sects if he steps down. On January 10, Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz told MPs that the military was preparing for the possibility of an influx of Syrian refugees, particularly on the occupied Golan Heights. Occuppied Jerusalem - Naharnet