U.S. to respond to chemical weapons use in Syria

The United States and its international partners will respond swiftly to any verified chemical weapons use in Syria and urges Russia to make the point clear to the Syrian government, Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

She said that National Security Adviser John Bolton has spoken to his Russian counterparts, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chairman Joseph Dunford, has as well spoken to his Russian counterparts to make it very clear that the United States government and its partners will respond to any verified chemical weapons use in Idlib or elsewhere in Syria for that matter in a swift and appropriate manner. "So we would encourage Russia to make this point very clear to Damascus that that will not be tolerated," Nauert said.

She added that the U.S. would hold also Russia or the Syrian government accountable for any offensive on Idlib or any kind of escalation in that area, especially if such efforts involve the use of chemical weapons.

On Tuesday, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said that the warning about potential chemical attacks in Syria is based on concrete facts. Citing reports, Nebenzia said that a number of containers with chlorine were delivered to different cities in the Syrian province of Idlib. He also said unmarked weapons were reportedly transferred to unmarked vehicles.