Reports indicate that Iran is planning to assist Syria with its chemical warfare program. Iran will aid Syria in the development and initial operation of about five facilities for the production of sarin nerve agents, mustard blister agents, and even VX poison gas – the deadliest nerve agent ever created. With Iran’s help Syria hopes it can eventually achieve independent production capability.
Revelations about Syria’s chemical weapons program couldn’t come at a worse time. Currently Syria is under tremendous pressure from the international community to cooperate with UN investigators who are looking into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The United States, Britain, and France, all permanent Security Council members, have proposed a resolution threatening tough sanctions on Syria if it doesn't cooperate with the UN probe. Hariri and 19 other individuals were killed in a bombing in Beirut in February. It is widely believed that Syria is directly responsible for Hariri’s death. However, instead of silencing an influential critic, Syria has made Hariri a martyr and brought international attention to the situation in Lebanon. Hariri’s death was the catalyst that brought about the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. Syria removed its troops in April, ending its 29-year military presence in the war-torn nation.
Many experts believe that a large-scale confrontation between Israel and its neighbors could be on the near horizon. Thus making Syria’s growing relationship with nations such as Iran and Russia more concerning. Over the past year or so, partly as a consequence of the war in Iraq, Russia has been carefully cultivating ties with Turkey, Iran and Syria. After losing the Mid-East foothold provided by Saddam Hussein's Iraq, the Russians have been building a new axis of power based on those three key countries. Russia is now Turkey's second-largest trading partner, with a volume of $10 billion in trade per year. Russia has also strengthened ties with Iran by supplying it with nuclear-related technologies. Earlier this year Russia and Syria made plans to increase diplomatic and military cooperation. Russia wrote-off approximately 10 billion dollars of Syria’s Soviet-era debt and has supplied Syria with Russian made SA-18 surface-to-air missiles, in spite of Israel’s objections.
In a related development, the Palestinian Authority recently disclosed that Russian military experts have been sent to the Gaza Strip to train Palestinian security forces. In addition to training, Russia is prepared to provide the Palestinians with armored vehicles, ammunition, and helicopters. However Israel is adamantly opposed, and has refused to sign-off on the deal.
The increased military cooperation between the Palestinians, Syria, Iran, Russia, and Turkey could be a sign that the famed battle prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is on our near horizon. It is during this battle, that God will directly intercede to protect Israel from Magog and its allies. The Magog Invasion is just one of the Strategic Trends that we monitor on a regular basis, for more information check out our website.
Related Links:
• Russian Training Personnel in Gaza to Assist PA Forces - Jane's Defence Weekly