An injured Syrian student lies at a hospital bed after he was wounded when a mortar hit the al-Batiha school in al-Wafideen camp, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 4, 2012. The mortar slammed into a ninth-grade classroom, killing 29 students and a teacher, according to state media, as the civil war closed in on President Bashar Assad's seat of power. (Associated Press/SANA)
Syrians and Jordanians carry the body of Moath al-Rawashdy, 30, who was killed by Syrian forces shelling, during his funeral procession in Ramtha City, north of Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Al-Rawashdy was killed in Tafas village, in the Syrian city of Daraa, on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
In this citizen journalist image, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, anti-Syrian-regime mourners carry the coffins of Syrian civilians who were killed by the shelling of forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad, in Homs, Syria, on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Lens Yong Homsi) 
President Obama speaks at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) symposium at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
A boy injured by shrapnel receives treatment in a makeshift clinic during heavy fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras) 
A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon during clashes with government forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras)
Residents walk past buildings damaged during heavy fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras)
Smoke rises from buildings during heavy fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras) 
A Syrian rebel fighter fires his weapon during clashes with Syrian army forces on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
Syrian rebel fighters stand on a tank they took after storming a military base in Aleppo, Syria, on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
A man collects his belongings after his home was damaged in heavy fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras)
President Obama speaks at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) symposium at ... more >Since the beginning of the uprising against the Syrian regime and especially after the conflict descended into civil war, the U.S. and other nations have worried that Mr. Assad could use them or lose control of them. The latter scenario also could pose a risk of such weapons falling into the hands of Islamist terror groups allied with the Syrian opposition.
• This article was based in part on wire service reports from the Middle East.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Susan Crabtree is an award-winning investigative reporter with more than 15 years of reporting experience in Washington, D.C. Her reporting about bribery, corruption and conflict-of-interest issues on Capitol Hill has led to several FBI and ethics investigations, as well as consequences for members within their caucuses and at the ballot box. Susan can be reached at scrabtree@washingtontimes.com.
By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Consummate traveler Todd DeFeo explores the unique stories that make destinations worth going to.
It's a big world to play in, and learn from. Join us as we travel the boundaries and beyond.
The Red Thread is written for that special tribe: adoptive families and those who hope to be.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
