In an exclusive interview with Israel’s i24news, Syrian general-turned-rebel claims Assad didn’t declare his entire WMD arsenal.

By i24news

In an exclusive interview with i24news, Syrian rebel general Adnan Sello revealed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did not declare all the chemical weapons in his possession.

Général rebelle syrien Adnan Sello, – Photo: i24news

Sello served for 40 years under Presidents Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad, and was the head of the chemical unit of the Syrian army until he retired on Sept. 5, 2008. He then joined the rebel forces fighting to unseat Assad.

‘There were chemical weapons in Iraq in 2002’

Sello addressed the issue of Syrian-held chemical weapons and claimed to know the location of every cache. According to him, yellow trucks loaded with chemical weapons arrived in Syria from Iraq in 2002.

“When Bush attacked Iraq, he was right. There were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that were moved in 2002,” Sello said in the interview which took place in Istanbul. “The Americans attacked on March 19, but the weapons of mass destruction were exported between the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003.”

If Sello’s claim is correct, this would shed light on what has been labeled one of the biggest intelligence fiascos of recent times: the US and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, claiming they had to destroy Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction – but none were found.

Sello alleged that some of these weapons were then transferred to Lebanon, according to what an eyewitness in Istanbul told him.

With regards to Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, the General stated that Assad had not declared the totality of his arsenal.

“No, Assad said he had 1,300 tons in his possession,” Sello claimed. “To date, only 11 percent of [this stockpile] has been delivered.” The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reported two weeks ago that Syria had only delivered 11% of its stock so far and was missing the deadline for the removal of its whole CW arsenal.

Sello then added that he believes the rebel army has not attacked areas where the chemical weapons are stored because “they are weapons of mass destruction that would destroy not only men, but also animals and agriculture.”

In the interview, the general also detailed what led him to join the ranks of Syria’s rebel forces.

“This regime is a dictatorship. Before the revolution and after the revolution, it committed terrorist acts,” he said, adding that the “regime oppresses the whole nation, especially the Sunnis.”

“The people want democracy. The entire world hates this regime because of its [human rights] abuses,” Sello continued. “[Assad] shoots and kills people. This is why we created the Free Syrian Army and it is also what prompted me to join the rebels.”

‘Israel is our ally’

Sello also discussed Israel’s decision not to intervene in the Syrian crisis and said that some of the Free Syrian Army’s military leaders would prefer it if Israel supported them via the Gulf States.

The Italian port of Gioia Tauro, in the southern region of Calabria on February 4, 2014, the transfer site for 560 tons of Syrian chemical weapons material to a US ship, to be destroyed at sea – Filippo Monteforte/AFP

“It is possible that in the future, the Gulf States, Jordan and a freed Syria will all stand alongside Israel against the enemy state of Iran,” Sello claimed. “We hope that Israel secretly intervenes and supports us by sending money and weapons. For us, Israel is a neighbor and a friend. If [Israel] would help us we would be ready to fight together against the Persian enemy’s imminent violence.”

Speaking directly into the camera, the general then addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Bibi, hello. As today’s friend and yesterday’s enemy, we are reaching out to you so that you will help us to wipe out Assad’s regime.”

View original i24news publication at: http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/140223-exclusive-assad-s-secret-chemical-weapons