Just when it seemed reasonable to assume the dictator in Damascus had his hands full in ruthlessly suppressing the democratic aspirations of his blighted people, it has been disclosed his regime is accelerating weapons supplies -- including missiles that bring Israel, Jordan and Turkey within range -- to Hezbollah terrorists in neighbouring Lebanon.

Unsurprisingly, Iran's thumbprints are all over shipments that make Hezbollah's the most powerful non-state military force in the world. The Shia group's new arsenal includes Scud missiles with a range of 700km.

Tehran is Assad's closest ally and they work hand-in-glove to support Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. Syria's and Iran's are not the only thumbprints on the build-up -- so, too, are those of madcap North Korea, currently and ludicrously chairing the UN Conference on Disarmament.

No other terrorist organisation is known to have weaponry of the type being supplied to Hezbollah. And nothing better underlines the sheer evil of Assad and his Iranian co-conspirators than this build-up. Their Machiavellian motivation is clear. Assad's Baathist regime is minority Alawite, a Shia sect, but most Syrians are Sunni -- if Assad is forced out and replaced by a Sunni, this would end the close ties to Shia Iran. With instability in Syria, Shia Hezbollah is being armed to confront Israel and any new Sunni regime emerging in Damascus.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Assad has lost his legitimacy, a fact underscored by the weekend formation by Syrian oppositionists of a National Salvation Council to take over if and when his regime collapses. But the toll of the unrest -- nearly 2000 dead -- is evidence of the extent to which Assad retains a capacity to create destruction.

Compared with its action on Libya, the international community has not been as active as it should have been on Syria. Shamefully, Russia and China have not even allowed a resolution condemning Assad through the UN.

Now that the Obama administration has finally concluded that the Baathist regime has no legitimacy, that must change. The time for pussyfooting over Syria has passed. Developments such as the weapons shipments to Hezbollah militants are potentially far too dangerous. Assad must be stopped before he does more damage.