US says Syrian missile transfers to Hezbollah could lead to war in the Mideast

US: Syria missile reports deeply troubling

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s top diplomat for the Middle East says the U.S. has warned Syria numerous times in recent weeks that transferring ballistic missiles to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia could lead to war in the region.

Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Wednesday that giving such weapons to Hezbollah would be “an incendiary, provocative action.” He would not confirm reports that Syria has sent Scud missiles to Hezbollah, but he said the administration viewed the matter with the gravest concern.

Feltman told a congressional committee that Syria’s leadership needs to understand the risks of arming Hezbollah, which he said “could affect war and peace in the region.”