The Syrian government has already considered using chemical weapons on rebel forces and civilians “as a last resort” – despite protestations to the contrary.

According to a report published Wednesday by The London Times, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime discussed the option at least three months ago. The report quoted as its source a former high-ranking Syrian Army officer who defected to the opposition and left the country.

In an interview conducted from the safety of Turkey, Major-General Adnan Sillu said he defected three months ago after participating in a meeting held at Syria’s chemical weapons center. Sillu also confirmed the regime had considered providing such weapons to the Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist organization.

The talks, held south of Damascus, focused on whether to use chemical weapons on their own people, he said.

“We were in a serious discussion about the use of chemical weapons, including how we would use them and in what areas,” Sillu said. “We discussed this as a last resort,” he added, “such as if the regime lost control of an important area as as Aleppo… They wanted to place warheads with the chemical weapons on missiles – to transfer them this way to Hizbullah… it was for use against Israel, of course,” he added.

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards were often present at the meetings as well, Sillu said, “to advise” and instruct on “how to use” the chemical weapons.

Syria at this point has “nothing to lose,” the former Syrian Army general pointed out, warning, “If a war starts between Hizbullah and Israel, it will be only good for Syria.”