One of Syria's leading pro-government newspapers reported that Israel was behind the explosion of a bomb in Hama province that killed a scientist working for the country's missile program. Reportedly, Aziz Azbar was research director at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, known as the ESRB. The Damascus-based agency is thought to be at the heart of the Syrian government's deadly chemical weapons program. Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed economic sanctions on some 300 ESRB employees, after Washington accused them of being directly responsible for the Syrian government's repeated use of chemical weapons against rebels and civilians. The European Union, as well as the French and British governments, followed the US and imposed sanctions on the ESRB and its staff.
According to Syrian media, Azbar has specialized in the development and maintenance of missile systems in the city of Masyaf, located about 160 miles north of Damascus, where CERS maintains a research center. He reportedly died on Saturday night following the explosion of his car. According to some reports, the explosion originated from a bomb that was placed in the headrest of his car seat and was detonated from a distance. His driver also died, according to Syrian media reports. A rebel group, the Abu Amara Battalions, which is linked with the Sunni Levant Front in Syria's Aleppo province, has released a statement claiming responsibility for Azbar's killing. Abu Amara's battalions have already made similar statements after reporting murdering Syrian government officials or militia commanders.
However, Syria's al-Watan newspaper said Sunday that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was responsible for Azbar's death. The Syrian scientist was "a person of extreme interest to Israel," the newspaper said, due to his direct link to the Scud missile arsenal built by Russia and North Korea. However, officials in Israel refused to acknowledge that Tel Aviv had any connection with Azbar's murder. "Every day in the Middle East there are hundreds of explosions and settling of scores," said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman. "Every time they try to blame Israel, so this time too we won't take Israel seriously," he added. The Syrian government has not made any formal statements regarding Azbar's death.
