Jerusalem, Israel
ON HIGH ALERT – ISRAEL’S CONCERN ABOUT SYRIA’S WMD’S
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense
Minister Ehud Barak have been sending out strong messages over the past few
days, warning the international community of an impending Israeli military
operation. They have stated that
Israel’s Defense Forces are prepared and ready for an attack on enemy forces in
Syria and Lebanon.
The Israeli government has assessed that Syrian President
Bashar Assad’s government is ready to fall, and he may try and flee the
country. The greater concern is what he will do with his mass weapons arsenal;
advanced missile systems; and WMD’s (chemical and biological weapons).
U.S. intelligence officials have declared that the Syrian
government has already moved part of its chemical stockpile out of storage
facilities… believed to be the world’s largest stockpile of mustard gas, sarin
nerve agent, and cyanide. The
possibility exists that Assad’s forces, which have killed an estimated 19,000
civilians, might try to use chemical weapons against the Syrian opposition.
Some of Syria’s chemicals have, reportedly, been placed in
warheads and fitted on Scud missiles that could be used against Israel. Though
the Free Syrian Army is in the process of forming a team to protect chemical
weapons sites, this may not be enough security to satisfy Israel and America. The
United States is prepared to move its forces into Syria to help destroy Assad’s
WMD’s, if needed; and, to back up Israel if it decides to launch a military
operation in the near future.
Israeli intelligence is keeping a watchful eye on Syria and
Lebanon, hoping that Assad has not already smuggled some of his dangerous chemical
arsenal to Hezbollah. Israel also wants to make sure that nothing lethal and
dangerous to the Jewish State ends up in the hands of Al Qaeda; global
jihadists; or other radical Islamic insurgents.
While most of Assad’s anger has been unleashed on his own
people, there is uncertainty as to whether he will extend his fury towards Israel
in a last ditch effort to save his regime and his life.
In addition to staging troops on the Israeli-Syrian border, the Netanyahu government is preparing refugee camps in an enclave between the two countries, in case thousands of Syrian citizens try to flee to Israel. Already, a few dozen have attempted to cross the border in an effort to get away from the wrath of Assad’s security forces. They have feared for their lives as the civil war expands across the country.
In recent days, at least 20,000-50,000 Syrian’s, including
foreign aid workers and diplomats, have fled into Lebanon to escape the Syrian
war. Turkey has kept its border open to
some 30,000 refugees; and, Cyprus has expressed a willingness to take in
200,000 Syrian’s escaping from their war torn nation.
Last week, Syrian rebels achieved a victory in an attack on
Assad’s senior ministers and security officials. Four high-level leaders were killed, including
Assad’s brother-in-law. The bomb attack on the National Security building was considered
an inside operation that penetrated Assad’s inner cabinet. Some in Syria have
claimed this is a turning point because individuals close to Assad’s inner
circle must have provided intelligence information to Assad’s enemies. While the civil war is far from over, this
event signaled that Assad’s power and options are diminishing, and opposition
forces are growing in strength.
Israeli government officials are worried that Islamic
militants may take advantage of the chaos in Syria and try to stage terrorist
attacks against Israeli northern border towns. This would be a similar tactic
used by militants launching terror attacks against Israeli southern towns along
the border with Egypt.
The instability in Syria has created a vacuum that is now
being filled by radical Islamists. While
they are intent to fight alongside Syrian opposition forces, their goal may be
to take over the Syrian government once the Assad regime falls. At least two Salafist groups, backed by
Al-Qaeda, have been carrying out suicide car bombings in Syrian cities, causing
more upheaval in the country. Iraq and northern Lebanon have been gathering
points for these jihadist fighters who daily cross the border into Syria,
hoping to join the resistance.
The current civil war in Syria is undermining Iran’s
regional axis of pro-Shiite sympathizers.
Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Syria have formed a bloc against Sunni
dominated Arab nations in the region.
However, there are strong pockets of Sunni resistance forces
in Lebanon that may contend with Hezbollah’s supremacy in that nation. They
could try and support Sunni’s that are fighting Assad’s Alawite forces in
Syria. This means that sectarian clashes are expected to continue even after
Assad’s government falls.
Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011,
the goal of Assad’s regime has been to accuse rebel forces of being controlled
by an outside Islamic insurgency. Assad
has been in denial that his own people have hated him and his dictatorial
regime. Rather, he has painted a false picture that it is outside terrorists
acting against the Syrian government that have infiltrated rebel forces among
the general population. But, video reports and eye witness accounts have proven
that what was once public discontent for Assad’s rule has now become a war to
bring him and his government down.
Once Assad falls, the question remains as to who will lead
the country. Syria may become split
along sectarian lines, similar to Lebanon and Iraq. For example, the Druse
would remain on the Golan; the Alawites in the Ansariya mountains; and, the
Kurds in northern Syria. The Sunni’s who
make up the majority of the population, would continue to live in cities
throughout the country. Israel can only wonder who, out of all these population
groups, might become the next leader of Syria. And, will that leader follow in
the evil footsteps of Assad and his family?
In the meantime, Israel will continue to pay close attention
to the uprising in Syria, preparing its ground troops and air force for all
possibilities. The persistent warnings by high level Israeli officials are a
way of letting the Assad government and Islamic radicals know that the turmoil
in Syria cannot be used to conduct a surprise attack on the Jewish State. Israeli
forces are ready for any battle ahead.
“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my
hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Psalm 144:1
Psalm 144:1