As Israel continues monitoring events in Syria with concern, the head of IDF Intelligence Corps Research Unit Brigadier-General Itai Baron reported on Tuesday 13 Iyar 5773 that Syrian leader Bashar el-Assad is using sarin gas. According to Baron the ongoing civil war has already claimed 70,000 lives, averaging 1,000 dead each week, as well as resulting in at least 1 million Syrians now classified as refugees.

The senior intelligence officer cites an increase in the use of surface-to-surface missiles armed with chemical weapons including sarin gas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)