Israel Matzav

Iraq returns the favor? Lebanese paper reports Syria hiding chem weapons in Iraq

You will recall that I have presented proof in the past that the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein transferred chemical weapons to Syria in the lead-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal, Syria is now returning the favor.

Syria has moved 20 trucks worth of equipment and material used for the manufacturing of chemical weapons into neighboring Iraq, the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reported on Sunday.

The government in Baghdad has denied allegations that it is helping the Syrian government conceal chemical stockpiles.

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The newspaper reported that the trucks crossed the boundary separating Syria with Iraq over the course of Thursday and Friday. Border guards did not inspect the contents of the trucks, which raises suspicions that they contained illicit cargo, according to Al-Mustaqbal.

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Last week, the head of the Free Syrian Army told CNN that opposition intelligence indicated Assad was moving chemical arms out of the country.

"Today, we have information that the regime began to move chemical materials and chemical weapons to Lebanon and to Iraq," General Salim Idriss told CNN.

"We have told our friends that the regime has begun moving a part of its chemical weapons arsenal to Lebanon and Iraq. We told them do not be fooled," Idris told reporters in Istanbul.

Hmmm....

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Syria

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:54 AM