Experts from the Israeli security research institute "Alma" warned of the danger of Syrian chemical weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah and other armed forces working with it. In a report distributed to media outlets, it was stated that the "SARS" compound, which officially appears as a civilian scientific research institute, is now under almost complete Iranian control, with Hezbollah's role in managing its affairs increasing recently.
The report claimed that the "SARS" center includes about 20,000 Syrian officers and experts in the production of various types of weapons, including chemical weapons. It was established in the 1980s and has several facilities spread throughout Syria. At one point, it was under total Syrian control, but Iranian military experts have gradually begun to dominate it, particularly at "Institute 4000," where new weapons are produced and old ones are refurbished, including M600 ground-to-ground missiles, "Fateh 110" missiles, "Scud 275," "Zelzal," "Fajr," and others.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly warned in 2013 about these facilities and the danger of chemical weapons there falling into the hands of Hezbollah. Since then, Syrian Air Force aircraft have consistently bombed them. However, this warning came after intelligence investigations and academic follow-up. It is not ruled out that its aim is a veiled threat that Israel is monitoring this activity and intends to deliver severe strikes against it.
The Israeli "Alma" institute stated that the Iranians are preparing this center to become a driver for the growth and development of modern conventional weapons, according to the extensive expertise of weapon production institutions in Tehran, including drones, which is why Israel has consistently targeted it. The center published a list of bombing operations against the center over the past years.
It added: "Although the Syrian government denies having chemical weapons, we at the institute are confident that there is a large stock of chemical weapons in Syria, some of which has been produced in recent years at the SARS center. In Damascus, they see that this type of weapon is the most important deterrent element against threats to the regime, and therefore they are keen on its production and the development of tools for its use, which includes nerve agents like sarin and others."
"Alma" warns of the possibility of these chemical weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah to use them against Israel. It states: "It is not unlikely that the Iranians would use it and allow Hezbollah to use it against Israel in times of crisis and hardship. They have supplied Hezbollah with missiles considered primitive but capable of carrying chemical warheads. There are storehouses for these weapons in the Syrian Masyaf region, right on the border, to facilitate their transport to Lebanon."
The center expressed its belief that "there is a high probability that Israel, in the event of war, will bomb these chemical weapons stores and factories wherever they are located, so that Hezbollah cannot use them."
