The uprising in
Syria against the regime of President Bashar Assad took a dramatic turn
today when an explosion at a government building in Damascus killed the
country's defense minister and a brother-in-law of the president.
Syrian state TV, which is reporting the deaths, has blamed a suicide bomber. There have been at least two claims of responsiblity from groups opposed to the Assad regime. There are also reports that the bomber was a member of the Assad inner circle's security team.
After first announcing the death of Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha, state TV followed around 7:30 a.m. ET with word that Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Assef Shawkat, the husband of Assad's elder sister, also died.
The Guardian reports that Syrian activist Shakeeb al-Jabri, who posts messages on Twitter as @LeShaque, warns there will be a "massive retaliation" from the Assad regime.
We're updating this post as the story develops.
Update at 11:50 a.m. ET. A Strike At The "Military Structure":
"The attack in Damascus, after three days of fighting in the capital, hit at the very military structure that has been directing the harsh repression of the 17-month-old uprising against Mr. Assad's rule," The New York Times writes.
Update at 11:30 a.m. ET. Live Video:
Al-Jazeera is streaming what it says are live video feeds from inside Syria that show some of the fighting now underway.
Update at 11 a.m. ET. State TV Says Third General Was Killed:
Following up on earlier reports that former defense minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani was also killed, al-Jazeera writes that Syrian state TV says he indeed has "died of wounds sustained in a bomb attack."
Update at 9:30 a.m. ET. Syria May Be "Spinning Out Of Control":
At the Pentagon this morning, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the situation in Syria may be "rapidly spinning out of control," the AP reports.
Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting that former defense minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani, who is now an assistant vice president, was also killed.
Update at 8:50 a.m. ET. Shawkat Was "Chief Architect" Of Crackdown:
According to the Guardian, Gen. Shawkat was "the chief architect of the 16-month crackdown" by the Assad regime on those who have been protesting and the militias that have been battling government forces. And, the Guardian says:
Syria's defense minister was killed today in an explosion at a government building in Damascus, state media there are reporting.
Correspondent Rasha Elass tells our Newscast Desk that Syrian state TV claims a suicide bomber targeted a government building. This comes as clashes in Damascus have escalated and the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime may have reached a tipping point.
According to The Associated Press, the explosion happened "during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials." Along with Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha's death, state media are reporting that other senior officials were wounded, the wire service adds. The BBC says that among those reportedly injured was a brother-in-law of Assad.
Activists in Syria, Rasha reports, say today's apparent attack marks the greatest breach of security against the Syrian regime yet. According to the BBC, "security sources say the suspected bomber worked as a bodyguard for members of President Bashar Assad's inner circle."
Meanwhile, as the AP writes, "the U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote later Wednesday on a new resolution aimed at pressuring the Syrian regime to comply with a peace plan. But Russia remained at loggerheads with the U.S. and its European allies over any mention of sanctions and Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria."
We'll update with more on the news as the story develops.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/07/18/156959316/syrian-defense-minister-killed-in-explosion-state-tv-says?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20120718
http://www.youtube.com/user/aljazeeramubasher?feature=results_main
Syrian state TV, which is reporting the deaths, has blamed a suicide bomber. There have been at least two claims of responsiblity from groups opposed to the Assad regime. There are also reports that the bomber was a member of the Assad inner circle's security team.
After first announcing the death of Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha, state TV followed around 7:30 a.m. ET with word that Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Assef Shawkat, the husband of Assad's elder sister, also died.
AFP/Getty Images A June 2000 file photo of Syrian Gen. Assef Shawkat.
Syrian Arab News Agency/AFP/Getty Images Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha last September.
Update at 11:50 a.m. ET. A Strike At The "Military Structure":
"The attack in Damascus, after three days of fighting in the capital, hit at the very military structure that has been directing the harsh repression of the 17-month-old uprising against Mr. Assad's rule," The New York Times writes.
Update at 11:30 a.m. ET. Live Video:
Al-Jazeera is streaming what it says are live video feeds from inside Syria that show some of the fighting now underway.
Update at 11 a.m. ET. State TV Says Third General Was Killed:
Following up on earlier reports that former defense minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani was also killed, al-Jazeera writes that Syrian state TV says he indeed has "died of wounds sustained in a bomb attack."
Update at 9:30 a.m. ET. Syria May Be "Spinning Out Of Control":
At the Pentagon this morning, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the situation in Syria may be "rapidly spinning out of control," the AP reports.
Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting that former defense minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani, who is now an assistant vice president, was also killed.
Update at 8:50 a.m. ET. Shawkat Was "Chief Architect" Of Crackdown:
According to the Guardian, Gen. Shawkat was "the chief architect of the 16-month crackdown" by the Assad regime on those who have been protesting and the militias that have been battling government forces. And, the Guardian says:
"Shawkat, married to Assad's sister Bushra, was one of the most feared figures in the president's inner circle and had won the support of the clan's influential matriarch, Anisa. He was one of three central figures in the regime crackdown, along with Assad himself and his brother Maher. As Syria's overall security chief, he had key input into all military and intelligence operations. He is known to have survived an attempt to poison him in late May when a cook contaminated food that had been prepared for him and key members of the national security ministry."Our original post, "Syrian Defense Minister Killed In Explosion, State TV Says":
Syria's defense minister was killed today in an explosion at a government building in Damascus, state media there are reporting.
Correspondent Rasha Elass tells our Newscast Desk that Syrian state TV claims a suicide bomber targeted a government building. This comes as clashes in Damascus have escalated and the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime may have reached a tipping point.
According to The Associated Press, the explosion happened "during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials." Along with Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha's death, state media are reporting that other senior officials were wounded, the wire service adds. The BBC says that among those reportedly injured was a brother-in-law of Assad.
Activists in Syria, Rasha reports, say today's apparent attack marks the greatest breach of security against the Syrian regime yet. According to the BBC, "security sources say the suspected bomber worked as a bodyguard for members of President Bashar Assad's inner circle."
Meanwhile, as the AP writes, "the U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote later Wednesday on a new resolution aimed at pressuring the Syrian regime to comply with a peace plan. But Russia remained at loggerheads with the U.S. and its European allies over any mention of sanctions and Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria."
We'll update with more on the news as the story develops.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/07/18/156959316/syrian-defense-minister-killed-in-explosion-state-tv-says?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20120718
http://www.youtube.com/user/aljazeeramubasher?feature=results_main
Syria Live Blog
Violence in Syria has
escalated into what some are calling a civil war. Activists say at least
17,000 people have died since the uprising began in March last year.
The government blames "terrorists" and "armed gangs" for the unrest, as
rebels claim responsibility for a bomb attack that kills several members
of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.
http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/topic/syria-153
http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/topic/syria-153
Syria
The Kurdish Popular Committees have taken over the northern
city of Kobani (Ein al-Arab) in Aleppo province, as security forces
retreated from their bases in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights reported.
Syria
The picture below shows members of the Syrian community holding pictures during a protest near the Russian embassy in Bucharest.
Russia has not been discussing the possibility of taking in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, adding that he was unaware of any plans for the embattled Arab leader to come to Moscow.
Assad has made no public appearance or statement since a bomb in Damascus killed his powerful brother-in-law, his defence minister and a top general on Wednesday, an attack that prompted government forces to rain artillery fire on rebels.
The words below the pictures read" "To the Romanian government: Take action for this child" and "One of the 51 children with their throats cut". [Reuters]
Russia has not been discussing the possibility of taking in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, adding that he was unaware of any plans for the embattled Arab leader to come to Moscow.
Assad has made no public appearance or statement since a bomb in Damascus killed his powerful brother-in-law, his defence minister and a top general on Wednesday, an attack that prompted government forces to rain artillery fire on rebels.
The words below the pictures read" "To the Romanian government: Take action for this child" and "One of the 51 children with their throats cut". [Reuters]
Syria
Cyprus' foreign minister says the island is ready to help with
the evacuation of up to 200,000 European Union citizens and other
third-country nationals from Syria and other regional conflict zones if
necessary.
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said on Thursday that the island could be used as a conduit for evacuees who would stay for a couple of days until arrangements to their final destination are made.
Cyprus had helped in the 2006 evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Lebanon during a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Cyprus lies only 103km west of Syria and 206km from Lebanon.
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said on Thursday that the island could be used as a conduit for evacuees who would stay for a couple of days until arrangements to their final destination are made.
Cyprus had helped in the 2006 evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Lebanon during a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Cyprus lies only 103km west of Syria and 206km from Lebanon.
Syria
Syria's alliance with Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah took "a
severe blow" after a deadly rebel attack on Damascus killed three top
security chiefs, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday.
He said the bombing was "a severe blow to the radical axis, to the Iranians and Hezbollah, who are the sole supporters of the Assad family", he said in remarks communicated by his spokesman.
The minister said it was possible to watch the battle playing out less than a kilometre away in the Syrian village of Jebata al-Khashab.
"We can see the actual fighting, the mortars, hear the bullets between the Syrian army to rebels or the opposition," he said.
"This shows how the disintegration [of the Assad regime] is not abstract. It is real, it's approaching and what happened yesterday in Damascus will expedite the downfall of the Assad family," he said.
Barak noted growing audacity of rebels and said the Assad family's hold on Syria was "falling apart in front of our eyes" warning that no-one knew what would remain afterwards.
Also on Thursday, Syrian National Council spokesman George Sabra said: "We see that what happened is a sign of the beginning of the end of the regime". [AFP]
He said the bombing was "a severe blow to the radical axis, to the Iranians and Hezbollah, who are the sole supporters of the Assad family", he said in remarks communicated by his spokesman.
The minister said it was possible to watch the battle playing out less than a kilometre away in the Syrian village of Jebata al-Khashab.
"We can see the actual fighting, the mortars, hear the bullets between the Syrian army to rebels or the opposition," he said.
"This shows how the disintegration [of the Assad regime] is not abstract. It is real, it's approaching and what happened yesterday in Damascus will expedite the downfall of the Assad family," he said.
Barak noted growing audacity of rebels and said the Assad family's hold on Syria was "falling apart in front of our eyes" warning that no-one knew what would remain afterwards.
Also on Thursday, Syrian National Council spokesman George Sabra said: "We see that what happened is a sign of the beginning of the end of the regime". [AFP]
Syria
The Philippines is dispatching a team to Syria to bring home
as many as 9,000 Filipinos still in that country amidst the worsening
security situation there, the foreign department said Thursday.
The team from the departments of foreign affairs, labour and interior, will seek to locate the many unregistered Filipino workers in Syria and help them leave the country, spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
"They will do everything possible to contact our people there especially those undocumented OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] so that we can bring them out of harm's way immediately," he told reporters.
The team from the departments of foreign affairs, labour and interior, will seek to locate the many unregistered Filipino workers in Syria and help them leave the country, spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
"They will do everything possible to contact our people there especially those undocumented OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] so that we can bring them out of harm's way immediately," he told reporters.
Syria
The attack in Damascus has dealt a huge blow to the heart of
the Syrian government. It killed the defence minister, his deputy and
others. The national security chief was injured.
Following the attack, the government has said that it was happy to dialogue. Will the Damascus attack break or embolden the Assad government? Al Jazeera's Inside Story features Bassam Imadi, Elias Hanna and Christopher Swift:
Following the attack, the government has said that it was happy to dialogue. Will the Damascus attack break or embolden the Assad government? Al Jazeera's Inside Story features Bassam Imadi, Elias Hanna and Christopher Swift:
Syria
A memorial procession has been held for a man kiled yesterday
in the Rukn Eddin area of Damascus, with mourners chanting anti-Assad
slogans:
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Syria
Al Jazeera speaks to Syrian journalist Thabet Salem for his views on the conflict in Syria:
Syria
Syrian state television warned citizens on Thursday that
gunmen were planning to attack people in the capital using military
uniforms as disguises.
Syria TV said uniformed men in those districts may not actually be from the armed forces.
"Armed men in Tadamon, Midan, Qaa and Nahr Aisha [neighbourhoods of Damascus] are wearing military uniforms with the insignia of the Republican Guard. This confirms they are planning to commit crimes and attack people, exploiting the trust of citizens in our courageous armed forces," Syria's official channel said in a message flashed across the screen.
Opposition activists have accused security forces of using heavy artillery to attack rebellious areas like Tadamon and Midan, forcing residents to flee.
They have also said pro-Assad militiamen, called "shabbiha" in Syrian slang, have raided opposition areas in the capital. [Reuters]
Syria TV said uniformed men in those districts may not actually be from the armed forces.
"Armed men in Tadamon, Midan, Qaa and Nahr Aisha [neighbourhoods of Damascus] are wearing military uniforms with the insignia of the Republican Guard. This confirms they are planning to commit crimes and attack people, exploiting the trust of citizens in our courageous armed forces," Syria's official channel said in a message flashed across the screen.
Opposition activists have accused security forces of using heavy artillery to attack rebellious areas like Tadamon and Midan, forcing residents to flee.
They have also said pro-Assad militiamen, called "shabbiha" in Syrian slang, have raided opposition areas in the capital. [Reuters]
Syria
Nisreen El-Shamayleh reports from neighbouring Jordan:
Syria
China's foreign ministry said on Thursday it was deeply
concerned by the situation in Syria, as battles raged in the centre of
Damascus a day after a bomber killed President Bashar al-Assad's top
security chiefs.
China "strongly condemns the bombing which happened in Damascus yesterday. China expresses deep concern about the continued tension in Syria", the ministry said in a statement on its website. [Reuters]
China "strongly condemns the bombing which happened in Damascus yesterday. China expresses deep concern about the continued tension in Syria", the ministry said in a statement on its website. [Reuters]
Syria
The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least 56
people were killed by the regime’s forces, mostly in Damascus, its
suburbs and Hama.
Activists said that the regime forces backed by helicopters continued shelling the neighbourhoods in the capital and a number of suburbs.
Images broadcast by activists showed smoke columns rising from al-Erbeen town after being bombed. Activists also broadcast images of the five people killed in the shelling of the town this morning.
Activists also said that the Syrian regime's forces have continued shelling this morning on the old districts of Homs. The Syrian Revolution websites broadcast footage showing explosions in the neighbourhood of Jouret al-Shiyah after being bombed.
The websites also broadcast footage showing plumes of smoke rising from the town of Talbisah in Homs suburbs, and activists said that the bombing was the most violent bombardment the town suffered for more than four months.
Pictures also showed columns of smoke rising from the town of Rastan after attacks by government forces.
Activists said that the regime forces backed by helicopters continued shelling the neighbourhoods in the capital and a number of suburbs.
Images broadcast by activists showed smoke columns rising from al-Erbeen town after being bombed. Activists also broadcast images of the five people killed in the shelling of the town this morning.
Activists also said that the Syrian regime's forces have continued shelling this morning on the old districts of Homs. The Syrian Revolution websites broadcast footage showing explosions in the neighbourhood of Jouret al-Shiyah after being bombed.
The websites also broadcast footage showing plumes of smoke rising from the town of Talbisah in Homs suburbs, and activists said that the bombing was the most violent bombardment the town suffered for more than four months.
Pictures also showed columns of smoke rising from the town of Rastan after attacks by government forces.
Syria
Major General Robert Mood left his hotel in Damascus on
Thursday to fly to Geneva after an unsuccessful 90-day UN peace
monitoring mission to Syria ended, as battles between forces loyal to
President Bashar al-Assad and rebels raged in parts of the capital.
The observers' mandate concludes on Friday, but the United Nations' 15-nation Security Council is set to decide later on Thursday whether it should be extended for 45 days.
"I leave satisfied that I, and some 400 brave women and men, have done our best, under very challenging circumstances," Mood, who led the UN mission, told a news conference in the Dama Rose hotel.
The observers' mandate concludes on Friday, but the United Nations' 15-nation Security Council is set to decide later on Thursday whether it should be extended for 45 days.
"I leave satisfied that I, and some 400 brave women and men, have done our best, under very challenging circumstances," Mood, who led the UN mission, told a news conference in the Dama Rose hotel.
Syria
Russia has not been discussing the possibility of taking in
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a senior aide to President Vladimir
Putin said on Thursday, adding that he was unaware of any plans for
Assad to come to Moscow.
Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters Putin had not discussed where Assad might go if he left Syria - in talks with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama on Thursday.
Asked whether Assad could come to Russia, he said he had not heard of any such plans.
Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters Putin had not discussed where Assad might go if he left Syria - in talks with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama on Thursday.
Asked whether Assad could come to Russia, he said he had not heard of any such plans.
Syria
Hundreds of Damascus residents fled from clashes and army
shelling of several districts of the embattled Syrian capital on
Thursday, a rights watchdog reported, as the military gave them two days
to get out.
The military declared residents have 48 hours to leave areas where clashes are taking place between security forces and rebels, a security source has claimed.
"These extremely violent clashes should continue in the next 48 hours to cleanse Damascus of terrorists by the time Ramadan begins," the source said, referring to the Muslim holy fasting month.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said "hundreds of people" fled several areas.
In the western district of Mezzeh, hundreds of people were on the move, "fearing a large-scale operation by regime troops", the Observatory said.
Residents also fled the southern district of Tadamon and the Palestinian refugee camp Yarmuk for an unknown destination, it added.
The military declared residents have 48 hours to leave areas where clashes are taking place between security forces and rebels, a security source has claimed.
"These extremely violent clashes should continue in the next 48 hours to cleanse Damascus of terrorists by the time Ramadan begins," the source said, referring to the Muslim holy fasting month.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said "hundreds of people" fled several areas.
In the western district of Mezzeh, hundreds of people were on the move, "fearing a large-scale operation by regime troops", the Observatory said.
Residents also fled the southern district of Tadamon and the Palestinian refugee camp Yarmuk for an unknown destination, it added.
Syria
Al Jazeera speaks to Michael Stephens, a researcher with the Royal United Services Institute, on recent developments in Syria:
Syria
Residents held a funeral on Thursday for a man killed on Wednesday in the southern Syrian city of Deraa.
Syria
Al Jazeera's Niseen El-Shamayleh reports from Amman, Jordan:
Russia has made it clear, in the past and in recent times through the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and through the president, Vladimir Putin, that Russia is not going try to convince Bashar al-Assad to step down and is not going to try to impose any kind of resolution that will lead to foreign military action against Damascus similar to the military operation we saw in Libya that brought down [Muammar] Gaddafi.
Syria
Gun battles have continued in the capital for a fifth straight
day. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr is monitoring the situation from
neigbouring Beirut:
Syria
Qatar hosts the third meeting on Thursday of the International Working Group on sanctions against the Syrian regime.
The group includes a host of countries from the Group of Friends of the Syrian People and aims to achieve greater effectiveness in the implementation of tougher measures and coordination of sanctions.
Ali bin Fahad Al-Hajri, the Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs, called at the opening of the meeting to continue imposing more sanctions.
He urged co-ordination among countries in the group to enhance their effectiveness, and to limit the ability of the Syrian regime to dodge them.
The Doha meeting came after two similar meetings held for the same purpose in both Paris and Washington.
The group includes a host of countries from the Group of Friends of the Syrian People and aims to achieve greater effectiveness in the implementation of tougher measures and coordination of sanctions.
Ali bin Fahad Al-Hajri, the Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs, called at the opening of the meeting to continue imposing more sanctions.
He urged co-ordination among countries in the group to enhance their effectiveness, and to limit the ability of the Syrian regime to dodge them.
The Doha meeting came after two similar meetings held for the same purpose in both Paris and Washington.
Syria
The head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, Major General
Robert Mood, has delivered remarks at a press conference in Damascus:
"It pains me to say, but we are not on the track for peace in Syria and the escalations we have witnessed in Damascus over the past few days is a testimony to that," Mood said.
"As you all know too well, the current mandate of UNSMIS expires on 20 July. As a result, my duties as Head of UNSMIS also expire in a few days," he said. "That does not mean that my affections to Syria end today. My love for the people of this country and my desire for them to regain peace are endless."
"It pains me to say, but we are not on the track for peace in Syria and the escalations we have witnessed in Damascus over the past few days is a testimony to that," Mood said.
"As you all know too well, the current mandate of UNSMIS expires on 20 July. As a result, my duties as Head of UNSMIS also expire in a few days," he said. "That does not mean that my affections to Syria end today. My love for the people of this country and my desire for them to regain peace are endless."
There is no lasting hope in the military solution. I, as a soldier, know more than many, that the decision in favor of peace, is harder than that of war.
Syria
The Syrian Local Co-ordinating Committees have said that 13
people have been killed so far on Thursday by the Syrian regime’s
forces, mostly in Damascus, its suburbs and Hama.
Activists in the Damascus suburb of Qudsaya have broadcast images of the funeral of those killed yesterday.
Mourners shouted slogans condemning the actions of the Syrian regime and called for toppling it.
Activists in the Damascus suburb of Qudsaya have broadcast images of the funeral of those killed yesterday.
Mourners shouted slogans condemning the actions of the Syrian regime and called for toppling it.
Syria
The Revolution Leadership Council in Damascus is reporting heavy shelling in Qaboun on the outskirts of the capital.
And a video feed reportedly shows the northeastern suburb Harasta, where government helicopters are heard flying overhead:
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And a video feed reportedly shows the northeastern suburb Harasta, where government helicopters are heard flying overhead:
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Syria
Clashes have erupted near the government headquarters in
Damascus after rebels attacked forces loyal to President Bashar
al-Assad, who have deployed armoured vehicles and increased roadblocks
across the city, activists and residents said.
At least one person was reported killed in the fighting in Ikhlas neighbourhood adjacent to the Council of Ministers, a huge complex, and to a Damascus University campus, they said. [Reuters]
At least one person was reported killed in the fighting in Ikhlas neighbourhood adjacent to the Council of Ministers, a huge complex, and to a Damascus University campus, they said. [Reuters]
Syria
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says Israel will stop
Syrian refugees from entering the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights if
they try to flee there.
Barak told reporters after touring the Golan on Thursday that Syrian refugees, who have already started fleeing to Turkey and Jordan, might also start fleeing toward the Israeli-held territory.
He added, "If we have to stop waves of refugees we will stop them."
Barak also repeated the military's assessment that the Golan,l captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war, could become a haven for militant groups.
In his comments to reporters, Barak restated Israel's frequently voiced fear that, in the chaos, Syrian weapons will fall in the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah fighters.
Barak told reporters after touring the Golan on Thursday that Syrian refugees, who have already started fleeing to Turkey and Jordan, might also start fleeing toward the Israeli-held territory.
He added, "If we have to stop waves of refugees we will stop them."
Barak also repeated the military's assessment that the Golan,l captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war, could become a haven for militant groups.
In his comments to reporters, Barak restated Israel's frequently voiced fear that, in the chaos, Syrian weapons will fall in the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah fighters.
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