CSIS: Syria completes chemical warhead development

A new report by a Washington-based think tank, CSIS, said Damascus has completed chemical weapons development and has produced warheads that can be placed on their ballistic missiles. The next step is the development of biological weapons.

Anthony Cordesman, the author of the report and a leading Washington strategist, said Syria has improved its radar and targeting capabilities and has developed a significant long-range air strike capability, all of which pose a significant threat to Israel.

"Most experts believe that these missiles are armed with VX nerve gas warheads -- joining the large number of sheltered Scud missiles with nerve gas warheads that Syria already deploys," Cordesman writes in his report. "They may well use bomblets to deliver such gas over a wider area. The possibility of biological warheads cannot be dismissed, although Syria is more likely to use the latter weapons in bombs or a covert delivery system."

Cordesman cites an article about biological warfare written by Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas that recently appeared in an Iranian journal.

"Syria has a major interest in biological warfare, and the fact that [Tlas's] article first appeared in public in an Iranian journal may not entirely be a coincidence," Cordesman said.

Western intelligence sources said Syria has the capability to produce Scud C missiles, with a range of 550 kilometers. The missile could strike any part of Israel.

Cordesman says North Korea continues to help Syria's missile program. He says Damascus also has deployed unmanned air vehicles.

"A new North Korean missile gives Syria the capability to strike at any part of Israel as well as its other neighbors, and Syria has long-range drones that can assist in targeting such missiles," Cordesman says in the report. "It can cover all 11 of Israel's air bases, all of the 15-odd main armories for Israel's armored forces, and all major reserve force assembly areas. The new missiles have better range payload, reliability, and accuracy than the extended-range Scuds that Saddam Hussein used in the Gulf War."

Cordesman, who was national security assistant to Sen. John McCain, has served in senior positions in the Pengtagon and Energy Department. His report is a departure from earlier assertions that Syria's military has collapsed and does not threaten Israel.

In Cairo, Syrian diplomats have issued a memorandum to the Arab League on Israel's alleged nuclear capability. The memo asserts that Israel has a much greater capability than Pakistan, saying Jerusalem has more than five times the amount of missiles and 20 times more destructive in capability.

The memo said Israel's nuclear systems include missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers, F-15 jets and submarines equipped to launch nuclear missiles.

Syria said Israel could destroy 20 Arab capitals in one nuclear strike. Israel could also destroy some 30 other strategic targets, including the Egyptian dam at Aswan.

The Arab League has expressed concern over what it called the nuclear relations between India and Israel. An Arab League statement said these relations constitute a threat to Arab security.