Syria Feared to Be Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a television interview earlier this week that Israel had intelligence information that indicated that Saddam Hussein had concealed his chemical and biological weapons in Syria.
Sharon said that the information - that Saddam had smuggled chemical and biological weapons into Syria - had not been completely verified.
Some of the equipment that Iraq recently transferred to Syria was destined for Hizballah, so that the militant group could open a northern front against Israel if America attacks Iraq, the Hebrew daily Ha'aretz reported on Thursday.
According to the report, the shipments included rockets with a range of 100 to 150 kilometers (60 to 90 miles) and possibly other items Iraq wanted to conceal in Lebanon.
Hizballah, which almost daily fires rockets and anti-aircraft missiles at Israel's northern border, has been trying to provoke an Israeli response.
Israel has made it clear that it is not interested in opening a second front, however, if Israel sustained heavy damage or injuries as a result of an attack, it has also made it clear that it will hold Syria - the main powerbroker in Lebanon - responsible.
Middle East expert, Professor Benny Morris of Ben Gurion University of the Negev said that while he could not confirm the reports of Saddam's maneuvering, he would assume that they are true and based on satellite pictures.
"[Saddam has] been busy hiding things for over a decade," said Morris in a telephone interview. "It's sure that Assad is playing a double game."
Washington has been trying to court Syrian support for its war against Iraq. Assad has agreed to help the U.S. find al Qaeda operatives. But, the Syrian leader has also rejected a request from Washington to close down the headquarters of a dozen or so terrorist organizations, which he hosts in Damascus.
Despite some conflicts between them, Saddam and Assad are "blood brothers," Morris said.
They represent a united eastern front against Israel, they don't like America and they are both client states of Russia, he said.
U.N. weapons' inspectors have yet to locate any signs of the weapons of mass destruction for which they have been mandated to search, however, they have said that there are many outstanding questions.
The U.S. has also expressed its dissatisfaction with the 10,000-page report that Iraq handed over to the U.N. on its weapons' programs, making U.S.-led action against Iraq seem that much more likely.
Head of Israel's military intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash told lawmakers on Wednesday that the U.S.-led strike would likely take place at the beginning of February.
Israel decided on Wednesday not to inoculate its entire population against smallpox, however it did decide to broaden the groups that are already receiving the vaccine, Health Ministry spokesman Ido Hadari said.
Some 24,000 people in the defense establishment will now be receiving the vaccine. About 15,000 Israel frontline emergency service personnel have already been inoculated against the deadly virus.