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© Press TVArmed rebels in Syria
Israel is apparently laying the groundwork for a possible military attack on Syria by alleging that Damascus could be using chemical weapons against the Syrian people.

Tel Aviv has recently expressed concern about what it calls the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Israel says the weapons could fall into the wrong hands and that they may even be used by Syria to carry out an attack against Israeli forces.

The pretext is being used to justify a possible military assault on Syria even if it means triggering a broader conflict across the region.

Ayoob Kara, a senior member of the Israeli Likud Party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed in an interview with Israel Radio on June 9 that the Syrian government has used "chemical weapons against men, women, and children" during the past months of unrest in the country.

However, recent reports indicated that the armed groups fighting against the Syrian government have found access to and plan to use chemical weapons, acquired from Libya. According to a June 10 report by Russia Today, the armed rebels plan to use the chemical weapons against civilians and then attempt to blame Damascus for the atrocity.

Observers say the Israeli scheme against Syria resembles the excuse Washington used to invade Iraq in 2003. The United States falsely claimed that Baghdad possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Over the past months, Washington and Tel Aviv have repeatedly blamed bomb attacks and massacres of civilians in Syria on the Damascus government.

Damascus, however, says armed terrorist groups are responsible for the violence.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on June 3 that the country is "facing a war from abroad," adding that attempts are being made "to weaken Syria, [and] breach its sovereignty."