WASHINGTON ? Top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress Thursday that al-Qaida of Iraq was behind a series of bombings against the Syrian regime in recent months.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said bombings against security and intelligence targets in Damascus and Aleppo, bear "all the earmarks of an al-Qaida-like attack", leading the U.S. intelligence community to believe the Iraqi militant branch is extending its reach into Syria.
Clapper said Syria has an extensive network of chemical weapons sites the terrorist group could attack.
He added that Syrian opposition groups may have been infiltrated by al-Qaida, likely without their knowledge. Al-Qaida of Iraq is one of al-Qaida's largest regional affiliates.
The officials also told Congress that if Iran is attacked over its alleged nuclear weapons program, it could respond by closing the Strait of Hormuz to ships and launch missiles at regional U.S. forces and allies.
Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess tells senators Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict.
Clapper says it's "technically feasible" that Tehran could produce a nuclear weapon in one or two years, if its leaders decide to build one, "but practically not likely."
He says recent diplomatic outreach by Iran to European diplomats could indicate that officials there are reconsidering the program.
Both men say they do not believe Israel has decided to strike Iran.
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