by Daniel Siryoti, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
The Syrian military test-fired multiple chemical warheads in August, according to a Der Spiegel report on Monday. According to the report, which is based on multiple eyewitness accounts, the tests were held near the research compound in Safira, east of Aleppo.
The report states that the Syrian military test-fired five or six missiles from aircraft and tanks, each one armed with a chemical warhead. Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers were reportedly flown to the site in Safira to watch the tests, which apparently were successful.
The compound in Safira is considered Syria's biggest chemical weapons testing facility, though its official title is a "scientific research center," according to the report.
The guards posted at the compound have recently been replaced by more than 100 soldiers from Syria's elite fourth division, out of fear that the rebels would try to capture the secret base.
A high-ranking Syrian defector told the Britain-based newspaper The Times that the Syrian army had begun talks to consider the use of its chemical arsenal on the rebels.
Adnan Sillu, a major-general in the Syrian military, reportedly defected three months ago as a result of the talks, which he said included last resort uses of chemical weapons "such as if the regime lost control of an important area like Aleppo."
Sillu told The Times that the Syrian regime, seeing as it has nothing to lose at this point, has also considered handing over chemical weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, "for use against Israel — of course ... if a war starts between Hezbollah and Israel it would only be good for Syria."
Referring to the Der Spiegal report and its mention of the Iranian presence at the chemical weapon test, the general said "They were always coming to visit and to advise. They were always sending us scientists and bringing our scientists to them. They were also involved on the political side of how to use the chemical weapons."
The Syrian military has used more and more of the weapons at its disposal in attempts to quell the violent uprising. The first months of the revolt saw the Syrian army storm rebel strongholds with armored vehicles, which later gave way to heavier tanks, then artillery bombardment and most recently the use of air power.
August was considered the bloodiest month in the conflict by far, with activist groups claiming more than 5,000 deaths that month. Estimates state that since the beginning of the revolt, 17 months ago, more than 20,000 people have been killed.
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5830
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