Syria Tests Three Scud Missiles over Turkey

Three scud missiles capable of delivering chemical weapons and built using North Korean technology were tested by Syria last week, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, May 6).

Israeli military officials said one of the missiles broke apart mid-flight, scattering debris over Turkey, a NATO member.

“This is really putting your fingers in the eyes of the Americans, saying, ‘I’m not dancing to your flute,’” said a senior Israeli military official. “The tests are probably needed for the missile project, but this is [Syrian President Bashar al-Asad] taking a risk here and sending a message.”

Israeli officials did not report the missile test until this week because of confusion over why the United States has made no public comment on the incident.

Faruk Logoglu, Turkish ambassador to the United States, was told by the Syrian ambassador “that during a military exercise there was a technical mishap and that the Syrian government was very sorry about this.”

This is the first time Syria has tested a missile over another country, Israeli officials said, and note that the range of the missiles would have easily allowed for tests within Syrian borders (Steven Erlanger, New York Times, June 3).

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