State Department complains to Syria of illicit arms transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon

US complains to Syria of arms sales to Hezbollah

WASHINGTON — The State Department has summoned the senior Syrian diplomat in Washington to complain about what U.S. officials say is his country’s “provocative behavior” in supplying arms to the Iranian-aligned militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A State Department statement Monday evening said the diplomat was told the Obama administration condemns in “strong terms” the transfer of any arms, especially Scud ballistic missiles, from Syria to Hezbollah.

The statement did not explicitly confirm that a Scud transfer had occurred, but it strongly suggested that the U.S. accepts Israel’s accusation that Hezbollah obtained Scuds capable of hitting targets anywhere in the Jewish state.