U.S. President Barack Obama warned on Monday the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad that it would commit a “tragic error”, for which it will be held accountable, if it will resort to using chemical weapons, according to AFP. ” Given the regime’s stockpile of chemical weapons, we will continue to make it clear to Assad and those around him that the world is watching,” said Barack Obama for a U.S. veterans gathering in Reno (Nevada). “They will be held accountable by the international community and the United States should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons,” he added.
Monday, the Syrian regime admitted for the first time that they have chemical weapons, and threatened that it would use them in case of a Western military intervention, but not against its own people. Jihad Makdissi, Syrian foreign ministry spokesman, had previously warned that the Syrian regime might use chemical weapons in case Syria is attacked from outside. However, he didn’t confirm that Syria has chemical weapons.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the Syrians “should not even think of using these weapons”, considering this as unacceptable. “When officials of the Syrian regime evoke the release of chemical weapons, there is anxiety,” said Little. “We firmly oppose any plan that would justify the use of these weapons by the Syrian regime.” U.S. Department of State described the threat issued by Damascus as “atrocious and cold”. Spokesman of the Department, Victoria Nuland, argued that “it would be unacceptable to use such weapons”.
Department of State noted that the U.S. “warning” addresses both the Syrian regime and the “opposition, or any other person that may have access” to an arsenal of chemical weapons. “Syrian government is responsible for the security and storage of chemical weapons and the international community will make accountable all Syrian officials who will not meet these obligations”, said Sunday Obama spokesman Jay Carney.
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