U.S.: Lebanon at risk if Syria sent Scuds to Hezbollah

My son is currently living in Damascus Syria.  He said that the scuttlebutt on the street is that Israel is looking for some reason to justify an attack on Hezbollah which will most likely take place this summer.   While he was in Beirut for New Years Israel was strafing southern Lebanon trying to get Hezbollah to fire back at them, when that didn't work, they fired on the Hezbollah in Gaza and now there is this article in Haaretz which raises suspicion as to whether the report on scuds is true, or if they are just planting stories to justify their planned attack.


The alleged transfer of Scud missiles from Syria to Lebanon's Hezbollah, if true, would put Lebanon at significant risk, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

"If such an action has been taken, and we continue to analyze this issue ... clearly it potentially puts Lebanon at significant risk," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters.

On Tuesday, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai Al-Aam reported that Syria has recently shipped ballistic Scud missiles to Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.


Meanwhile, The White House said it has raised concerns with Syria about the reports about the transfer of Scud missiles.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday "we have relayed our concerns at the highest levels about weapons that could destabilize the region."

Israel this week accused Syria of giving Scud missiles to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia.

Gibbs told reporters, "we have an unbreakable bond with the Israeli people and in ensuring their security."

Israeli officials say the introduction of Scuds could alter the strategic balance with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that battled Israel in a month-long war in 2006. 

full article in Haaretz