The White House warned late Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could be preparing another chemical weapons attack and threatened a harsh response should he proceed. Deutsche Welle reports.
The White House released a statement accusing Syria of conducting preparations similar to those undertaken before an April 4 chemical attack that killed dozens of civilians and prompted the US to launch a missile strike on a Syrian air base.
“The United States has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in the statement.
“If … Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price,” he said.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, added on Twitter: “Any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Assad, but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people.”