NATO detects more missile launches in Syria

Unguided, short-range ballistic missile launched inside Syria hits north of country; NATO condemns "reckless" missile launches.

By REUTERS
Scud Missile311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Scud Missile311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
BRUSSELS - A short-range ballistic missile was fired inside Syria on Wednesday, following similar launches last week, a NATO official said on Thursday.
The official condemned as "reckless" the missile launches, which US officials called an escalation of the 21-month-old Syrian civil war when their use was first spotted last month.
"The use of such indiscriminate weapons shows utter disregard for the lives of the Syrian people," he said.
The official said NATO had detected the launch of an unguided, short-range ballistic missile inside Syria on Wednesday, following similar launches on January 2 and 3. All the missiles were fired from inside Syria and landed in northern Syria, he said.
The description of the missiles fits the Scuds that are in the Syrian military's armory, but the official said NATO could not confirm the type of missile used.
The NATO official was responding to a report from a Syrian opposition activist living near the Qaldoun army base, 50 km (30 miles) north of Damascus, who said four large rockets, apparently Scuds, were fired from the base overnight.
NATO has agreed to send Patriot anti-missile batteries to protect its member Turkey from possible missile attack from Syria.
Last week, the Syrian military fired at least four Iranian-made ballistic missiles at rebel positions, the Wall Street Journal reported, raising concerns the Assad regime may be resorting to more lethal weaponry to maintain power.
According to the report, the Syrian military has increased its utilization of Iranian-made Fateh-110s missiles, suggesting the Islamic Republic is stepping up its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"It certainly shows more aggressive action by the Syrian regime, aided by the Iranians," a senior US official was quoted by the Journal as saying.
"It could be a sign of new tactics or desperation," he said.
JPost.com staff contributed to this report.