MORDECHAI WARNS OF SYRIAN MISSILE DEVELOPMENT

ISRAEL LINE TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1998


  Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Security Committee on Monday, telling it that Syria's military echelon is
primarily engaged in the development of long-range, ground-to-ground
missiles, HA'ARETZ reported. The missiles, including the Scud C, have been
equipped with VX nerve gas, which Mordechai said changes the strategic
balance between Israel and Syria.
  A high-ranking officer from the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Branch
told the committee that the Syrians are building the missiles with North
Korean know-how and Russian materials.
  Concerning Iran, the officer said that ground-to-ground missile
development is occurring according to Iran's projected schedule, adding that
if no changes occur, Iran will launch its first missile in 1999.