IN HIS administration's first direct threat of force against Syria, US President Barack Obama said any discovery that the war-torn country's chemical or biological weapons were being moved or used may trigger US military intervention.
"A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilised," Mr Obama told reporters. "That would change my calculus."
Mr Obama said the US has "put together a range of contingency plans" for how to deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, its violence towards Syrians and other forces and has made clear to regional players that there would be "enormous consequences" for any development involving Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.
While the US has urged Dr Assad to step down, Mr Obama said that "at this point the likelihood of a soft landing seems pretty distant".
Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman said last month that chemical weapons are secure and won't be used against the country's opposition. The spokesman, Jihad Makdissi, indicated that assurance may not apply to foreign intervention.
"All the stocks of these weapons that the Syrian Arab Republic possesses are monitored and guarded by the Syrian Army," he said at a July 23 Damascus press conference shown on state-run television. "These weapons are meant to be used only and strictly in the event of external aggression."
The Foreign Ministry later issued a statement saying Mr Makdissi was responding to a "false premise" and was not confirming for the first time that Syria had chemical weapons.
A senior Obama administration official emphasised that the President's warning was aimed at large-scale transfers of weapons that would make them vulnerable to capture by radical forces, not movements by the government intended to secure the arsenal.
By hinting that the US might participate in locating and neutralising the weapons, Mr Obama was clearly trying to forestall the possibility of an Israeli move into Syria and the reaction it might provoke.
"The problem is that the material is so dispersed," said an expert who has been consulted by the administration.
While the intelligence about the stockpiles is sketchy, US estimates indicate there could be as many as two dozen sites around the country.
The search for Syria's unconventional weapons is yet another example of how much more complicated the situation in Syria is for the US than was Libya a year ago. In Libya, the weapons of greatest concern were shoulder-fired anti-aircraft munitions. They were tracked down by the US and Britain, largely using outside contractors and covert operatives. But chemical and biological weapons are harder to track.
In Syria, Dr Assad's forces stepped up attacks in and around the south-western city of Deraa on Monday, with activists reporting raids, executions of suspected opposition figures and intensified shelling.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that Japanese journalist Mika Yamamoto had been killed during fighting in Aleppo.
Her body has been transferred to a hospital in Kilis province in Turkey, it said.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What did President Obama warn about Syria’s chemical and biological weapons?
President Obama warned that if Syria’s chemical or biological weapons were found to be moving or being used, it could trigger US military intervention. He described seeing a “whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilised” as a “red line” that would change his calculus and prompted the administration to prepare contingency plans.
What does the “red line” on chemical weapons mean for investors following the US warns Syria headlines?
In the article the “red line” refers to large-scale movement or use of chemical weapons — an event President Obama said could prompt US military action. For investors, it signals that US officials consider certain developments in Syria serious enough to warrant contingency planning, though the article does not discuss specific market impacts.
What contingency plans did the US say it had prepared regarding Syria’s weapons?
The article states the US has “put together a range of contingency plans” to deal with Syria’s weapons and the regime’s actions, and has warned regional players there would be “enormous consequences” for developments involving Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal. The piece does not detail those plans.
Did Syria acknowledge it has chemical weapons, according to the article?
A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdissi, said chemical weapons are secure, guarded by the Syrian Army and meant for use only against external aggression, and he insisted they would not be used against the opposition. The Foreign Ministry later clarified that Makdissi was responding to a “false premise” and was not confirming for the first time that Syria had chemical weapons.
Why was the US especially concerned about transfers of Syria’s weapons?
A senior Obama administration official said the warning targeted large-scale transfers that could make unconventional weapons vulnerable to capture by radical forces. The administration also suggested US involvement in locating and neutralising weapons to prevent unilateral actions by other countries, such as Israel.
How widespread are the suspected chemical or biological weapons sites in Syria?
US estimates in the article suggest there could be as many as two dozen sites around Syria. An expert consulted by the administration noted the material is very dispersed, which complicates efforts to locate and secure it.
How does the search for Syria’s unconventional weapons compare to past operations like in Libya?
The article explains the Syria situation is more complicated than Libya’s a year earlier. In Libya the main worry was shoulder‑fired anti‑aircraft munitions that were tracked by the US and Britain using outside contractors and covert operatives. Chemical and biological weapons in Syria are harder to track and more dispersed, making the effort more difficult.
What on-the-ground developments in Syria did the article report that investors might want to note?
The article reports intensified violence in Syria: Assad’s forces stepped up attacks around the city of Deraa with activists reporting raids, executions of suspected opposition figures and intensified shelling. It also notes the death of Japanese journalist Mika Yamamoto during fighting in Aleppo, with her body transferred to a hospital in Turkey.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
