It is no secret that concerns in Israel regarding Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal are increasing as that country appears heading for total anarchy. The civil war appears to be escalating and Israeli experts warn Damascus’ vast cache of weapons, including chemical weaponry, may fall in the hands of terrorists, i.e. Hizbullah.

It appears that Hizbullah taking control of these weapons is a non-starter from Israel’s perspective, and this reality may compel a military strike against Syria in the not-too-distant future.

In his remarks on Sunday, 16 Shevat 5773, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hinted to the situation and the need for possible immediate action. He made his remarks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, the portion attended by the media, sending a message to Israelis, the USA and Syria alike. He explained that the Middle East does not wait for election results and the escalation in warfare in Syria may compel Israel to act.

Al-Jazeera and al-Arabia report stepped-up fighting between rebel and government forces in Syria, in the chemical weapons storage area while there are reports in Israel of increased activity in Israel Air Force bases in addition to the deployment of an Iron Dome battery in Haifa on Sunday, 16 Shevat.

Despite the general elections for the 19th Knesset last week, Mr. Netanyahu on Wednesday, 12 Shevat held a briefing including senior military and defense officials as they monitor the situation in Syria. Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom was quoted as telling that forum “We must prevent chemical weapons from falling into Hizbullah hands at all costs.”

In neighboring Jordan, government officials appear concerned regarding the events in Syria too. The daily Yisrael Hayom quotes a Jordanian source as stating “thousands of soldiers, hundreds of armored vehicles and dozens of tanks and artillery batteries were deployed along Jordan’s border with Syria.”

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)