Regional Implications of a U.S. Strike on Syria

Yaakov Lappin, the author of this article, based his analysis on the premise that it was Assad’s troops who launched the chemical attack. Yet we now know that at least 4 Hezbollah fighters are being treated for exposure to the chemicals. They claim they encountered them in caves being used by insurgents. Either truth is more frightening than a strictly governmental military operation because we now know that weapons of mass destruction are in the hands one or more terrorist

The Investigative Project on Terrorism

Analysis: The Regional Implications of a U.S. Strike on Syria

by Yaakov Lappin  Special to IPT News  August 27, 2013

Quote from article: “In recent days, Syrian and Iranian officials have issued a series of threats designed to deter a punitive strike, asserting, for example, a U.S. attack will create “a ball of fire that would burn not only Syria but the whole Middle East.” One Syrian spokesman claimed Israel would be the “first victim” of a U.S. attack on Syria, and that Israel will “come under fire” in the event of a strike. Such statements have been routinely issued by Iran and Syria in the past….

….In light of the fact that Assad is likely to survive an American military move, it would make no sense for him to take a step that will all but ensure his demise by provoking an Israeli response.”

Nevertheless, in the Middle East, irrational steps can never be ruled out.”