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Israeli Diplomat: Transfer of Chemical Weapons from Syria to Hizbullah 'Red Line'

Israel's ambassador to the U.S. has warned that any possible transfer from the Syrian regime of chemical weapons to Hizbullah would be a "game-changer," and said that would be a "red line" for the Jewish state.

"Were those weapons to pass into the wrong hands -- Hizbullah's hands for example -- that would be a game-changer for us," Ambassador Michael Oren told Fox News Sunday.

The remark came after global concerns over Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles have grown after U.S. officials privately said that the regime had begun mixing precursor chemicals that could be used for the lethal nerve agent sarin.

Some media reports said the substance had been loaded into bombs for warplanes.

Oren said he could not confirm those reports but made clear that Israel is watching the situation "very carefully."

"We have a very clear red line about those chemical weapons passing into the wrong hands. Can you imagine if Hizbullah and its 70,000 rockets would get its hands on chemical weapons? That could kill thousands of people."

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday it would be an "outrageous crime" if the regime used chemical weapons against the revolt that erupted in March 2011 as peaceful demonstrations and then turned violent when Syrian troops cracked down on dissent.


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