US warns Syria over arms to Hezbollah

US warns Syria over arms to Hezbollah

Syria’s government denies accusations that it provided Scud missiles to Hezbollah.

April 22, 2010 7:52 by Katherine Azmeh

Jeffry Feltman US Assistant Secretary of State and former US ambassador to Lebanon warned of “serious repercussions” for Syria if the country is found to have supplied Hezbollah with Scuds, according to reporting from the BBC on Thursday.

Feltman did not confirm the Scud transfer, which he said would be interpreted as an “incendiary, provocative action,” adding “all options are going to be on the table looking at this,” the BBC reported.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri had previously dismissed the accusation of the missile transfer, putting the matter down to Israeli accusations that might serve as a pretext for aggression.

In 2006, Hezbollah and Israel battled a 34-day conflict. UN Security Council resolution 1701 which helped to conclude the conflict, stipulated “arms embargo on Lebanon, except for transfers authorized by the Lebanese government or UN,” the BBC explained.