WASHINGTON (AFP)
Syria's Information Minister, Mohsen Bilal, dismissed U.S. allegations that Syria is storing North Korean nuclear weapons as being totally baseless, according to press reports Thursday.
Bilal said he considered the claims an excuse for the Israelis, who are in an awkward situation after the unjustified air raid on Syria last week, in comments carried by London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
The Syrian minister said his country will announce which areas were targeted by the raid in the right time.
"I don't see the point to rush while Israel is silent about the raid and the Pentagon has already confirmed that it took place," he said.
The New York Times reported Thursday that Israel carried out reconnaissance flights over Syria, taking pictures of possible nuclear installations that Israeli officials believed might have been supplied with material from North Korea.
A U.S. administration official said Israeli officials believed that North Korea might be unloading some of its nuclear material on Syria, the Times reported.
"The Israelis think North Korea is selling to Iran and Syria what little they have left," the unidentified official was quoted as saying.
A U.S. defense official confirmed Tuesday that Israel carried out an air strike well inside Syria last week, apparently to send Damascus a message not to rearm Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not know the target of the strike, which was conducted Thursday, but said the U.S. military believed it was to send a message to the Syrians.
"The Israelis are trying to tell the Syrians: 'Don't support a resurgence of Hezbollah in Lebanon.'"
Israel fought a devastating 34-day war in July and August 2006 against Hezbollah, whose missile firepower and use of sophisticated weaponry surprised the Israelis. |
