Final answer:
The question pertains to concerns over the use of widely available toxic tools such as chemical and biological weapons for asymmetric attacks against air bases. These methods can disrupt operations, cause mass casualties, and generate panic, with examples including the use of sarin gas and anthrax as weapons. Despite international prohibitions, such risks remain significant concerns for military and civilian security.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concern mentioned in the question likely refers to the growing vulnerability of air bases to asymmetric attacks using widely available but potentially toxic tools such as chemical and biological weapons. Asymmetric attacks are those in which an aggressor uses unexpected methods that are not on the same scale—or are less conventional—than the adversary's capabilities. These methods can include cyberattacks that result in the disruption of military communications and services, theft of intelligence, and the spread of disinformation.
Tactical methods have evolved beyond traditional warfare, encompassing the weaponization of bacteria, viruses, and toxic chemicals such as nerve agents like sarin. Sarin, for instance, is a highly potent toxin, and its use has had serious implications in the past, highlighting the critical need for military and policy responses to address these threats. The usage of such weapons poses a significant risk not only to the targeted military assets but also to civilians, as demonstrated by historical events like the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by Aum Shinrikyo.
Under international law, including the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and various subsequent treaties and conventions, the use of such weapons is largely prohibited. However, the presence of chemical warfare agents and the risk of bioterrorism continue to be major security concerns for military bases and civilian populations alike.