Syria’s chemical weapons may fall into terrorist hands, Israeli General saysJune 11, 2012 - 18:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons may end up in the hands of terrorists as the ruling regime and anti-government forces continue fierce fighting, an Israeli senior military commander said on Monday, June 11, RIA Novosti reported. “Syria’s chemical arsenal is the world’s largest. It has missiles that are capable of destroying targets on the entire territory of Israel,” Kol Israel radio station quoted Israeli General Staff Deputy Chief, Major General Yair Naveh as saying. The Israeli army should keep its vigilance to prevent Syrian chemical weapons ending up in the hands of radical militant groups like Al Qaeda or the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, the general said. At least 9,000 people have been killed in clashes between the government and opposition forces in Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad last year, according to UN estimates. UN special envoy Kofi Annan said on Thursday his six-point peace plan aimed at stopping the violence in Syria is "not being implemented." The presence of a group of UN observers also had little impact on the situation. Annan warned of an escalating crisis and laid responsibility for the atrocities on al-Assad’s regime. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |