Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Photo: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom / ABr via Wikimedia Commons.

Israel’s military intelligence chief says Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, is preparing to use chemical weapons.

Speaking at a security conference in the coastal town of Herzliya, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said that Assad is planning to step up an offensive against rebels in the increasingly fractured country.”The regime is trying to survive,” he said, without going into detail about how Israel knows Assad is planning to use the weapons.

Kochavi also told the audience that Syria had become two countries: part of it held by the government, part by Syrian rebel forces. “For example, 11 of the 17 border crossings to Syria are in the hands of the rebels. This means the flow of refugees, weapons flow, and equipment flow are controlled by Jihad forces,” he said according to Israel’s Channel 2.

As for Syria’s two allies in the region, Kochavi believes they have resigned themselves to Assad’s ouster. “Iran and Hezbollah understand Assad’s fate was sealed, so they are preparing for the day after.”