Israel Matzav

Report: Hezbullah hiding chemical weapons for use against Israel

It's just been one joyful report after another today.

A Kuwaiti newspaper is reporting that Hezbullah is hiding chemical weapons for use against Israel. The newspaper, al-Siyasi, ties its claims to an explosion that took place at a warehouse in southern Lebanon six weeks ago. It was first reported that eight Hezbullah terrorists were killed in the explosion; al-Siyasi reports that an additional three terrorists were killed inside the warehouse. The report is based upon European sources.

Al-Siyasi previously reported that Hizbullah has been smuggling chemical weapons into southern Lebanon, along with thousands of gas masks. The weapons and equipment reportedly were provided from Iran and smuggled via Syria.

The chemical weapons include mustard and nerve gas that were produced in North Korea and are destined for Katyusha rockets aimed at Israel. President Shimon Peres recently stated that Hizbullah has rearmed to the point where it has 80,000 missiles, nearly three times the number in its stockpile before the Second Lebanon War three years ago. Lebanon has dismissed his estimate as exaggerated.

Middle East Newsline this week quoted military sources as saying that Hizbullah is expanding its presence along the border, although the ceasefire resolution that ended the Second Lebanon War requires United Nations Interim Forces (UNIFIL) to make sure Hizbullah remains unarmed.

IDF officers and security officials said that Hizbullah terrorists, posing as civilians, have been renting houses to store weapons and for use in another war against Israel.

A terror analyst for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) revealed on Wednesday that an Arab government official recently told him. "You're going to be reporting a lot on Hizbullah in the future. They already have people on the ground in Europe and elsewhere. They will be making front page news soon. They are just waiting for the orders to act – they are not in a hurry."

You may recall that over the years, I have reported on the inadequacy of our gas masks. The masks were taken away and have not yet been replaced. At a minimum, their replacement ought to be a priority.

I have the sense that we are well-prepared for attacking Iran's nuclear weapons capability, but far less well-prepared for any response that might come. The exercise that's planned for January to simulate a biological weapons attack is good but inadequate. Much more must be done to prepare.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:38 PM