Hezbollah to use Syrian chemical weapons against Israel - an international think tank warns

Tel Aviv – The Assad regime in Syria had claimed to have destroyed or handed over a chemical weapons stockpile to the United Nations ten years ago. However, an international think tank, Alma Research and Education Center, warned that Syria still has chemical weapons, and Iran is working on it. Besides, it has warned that if there is a war with Israel in the coming days, Hezbollah or other terrorist organisations associated with Iran may use chemical weapons against Israel. The think tank made this claim while drawing attention to Iran’s increasing military activities in Syria over the past few years. Meanwhile, the earlier claim that Syria is free of chemical weapons appears false.

There was a 34-day struggle between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah in 2006. Moreover, Hezbollah had increased the influence of the terrorist organisation in Lebanon and Syria by blocking Israel. At the same time, Iran increased its share of Syria’s chemical weapons and drew attention to rockets and missile production. The think tank claimed Iran had taken over a chemical weapons manufacturing project in Syria after the civil war broke out against the Assad regime in 2011.

Assad regime had accused the Syrian people of using chemical weapons in this civil war. Additionally, international pressure on the Assad regime increased after a UK-based human rights organisation for Syria published photos and information confirming it. In addition, the UN’s Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) began seizing Syria’s chemical weapons and goods in 2013. The OPCW had claimed to have taken Syria’s entire chemical weapons stockpile within a few days. The then US President Barack Obama had welcomed it.

Furthermore, The Alma Research and Education Center claimed that Syria has a stockpile of chemical weapons, even after the incident has completed ten years. The think tank said Syria has hidden chemical weapons at the capital Damascus and other major military bases. Besides, today Syria’s chemical potential is enormous. The think tank also drew attention to the fact that the Assad regime claims Syria has kept these chemical weapons for security. Also, it had informed of chemical explosives mounted on missiles, rockets and mortars.

Moreover, Iran has manufactured these weapons in the Syrian factory, and in future, Iran may hand over this stockpile of weapons to Hezbollah or other terrorist organisations. The think tank has warned that Hezbollah or other terrorist organisations could use it in the war against Israel. It has also claimed that Iran is considering planting these chemical explosives on drones. Besides, the think tank says the Syrian factory is becoming an important base for Iran to manufacture advanced weapons or explosives.

Meanwhile, over the past few months, Israel has destroyed Syrian weapons stockpiles or vehicles used to smuggle them. The think tank claimed that the Israeli attacks were aimed at Iranian-made weapons. At the same time, the think tank has also drawn attention to the possibility that Iran could start a proxy war against Israel by arming Hezbollah with Syria’s chemical weapons.