Civilian populations are threatened by potential incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents, which are the consequence of either terrorist acts or natural and man-made disasters. It is important to ensure that first responders are prepared for such eventualities. - Preparing first responders for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents: NATO, 24 July 2013.

---------------------------------------------------

24 July 2013

Contact: Stephen M. Apatow
Founder, Director of Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute (UN:NGO:DESA)
Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies
Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law
Phone: 203-668-0282
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net
Internet: www.humanitarian.net

H-II OPSEC
Url: www.H-II.org

Iraqi Security Crisis - Al Qaeda Chemical Weapons Production

Background Discussions:

"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, formed earlier this year through a merger of al Qaeda's affiliates in Syria and Iraq, said it had stormed the high-security jails after months of preparation." --  Al Qaeda says it freed 500 inmates in Iraq jail-break: Reuters, 23 July 2013.

Crisis in Iraq highlighted by inability to secure prisons, while Al Qaeda focuses on Sarin production for global coordinated attacks. -- Iraq smashes Qaeda poison gas cell in Baghdad: Agence France-Presse, 1 June 2013.

Both Sunni and Shia Terrorist groups focus on CBRNE WMD technologies:

• Al Qaeda focuses on Sarin production for global coordinated attacks
• Iran-Hezbollah through Syrian Chemical-Biological Weapons program.

Syrian Armed Forces launched 25 chemical weapon attacks that killed 72 people and injured 760 others, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said Tuesday. -- Syrian group says chemical weapons killed 72; injured 760 others: UPI, 9 July 2013. See: 

• Comprehensive report of using chemical weapons by Syrian government's 25 times in 5 provinces in Syria: Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Destabilization of the Middle East and Continental Africa

"The use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime is a horrible escalation of violence that only highlights the latest stage in the "heating up" of a long-running, low-intensity “cold war” between Shia and Sunni Islam that is currently threatening to tear the Middle East apart.." -- Syrian Civil War in the Context of Sunni-Shia Cold War: Douglas Livermore.

"In Northern Mali. Tuareg rebellions occur in a cyclical pattern due to the inability and unwillingness of successive governments in Mali's capital to sincerely address the justified concerns of the Tuareg tribes of Northern Mali. With the added dimension of spreading Islamist militancy, it is imperative that the international community pursue a strategy that deals with the underlying cause of instability in the region - legitimate Tuareg nationalism." -- The Case for Azawad: Douglas Livermore.

Related:

• Syria: CBRNE Chemical - Biological - Nuclear Crisis Discussions: HRI: H-II OPSEC.
• Syria: Iran - Hezbollah - Al Qaeda Counterinsurgency Crisis Spiral: HRI:H-II OPSEC.

###