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Syria has used chemical weapons, Israeli military says | Syria has used chemical weapons, Israeli military says |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A senior Israeli military official has said Syrian forces have used chemical weapons against rebels several times. | A senior Israeli military official has said Syrian forces have used chemical weapons against rebels several times. |
Brig Gen Itai Brun said military intelligence believed the nerve agent sarin had probably been used "in a number of incidents". | Brig Gen Itai Brun said military intelligence believed the nerve agent sarin had probably been used "in a number of incidents". |
The US has said it would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons in Syria. | The US has said it would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons in Syria. |
But US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had not been able to confirm Brig Gen Itai Brun's claim to him. | |
Syria's government and rebels have accused each other of using chemical weapons. A UN team is trying to enter Syria to investigate. | |
Facts unclear | |
Speaking at a security conference in Jerusalem, Gen Brun said: "To the best of our professional understanding, the regime has made use of deadly chemical weapons against the rebels in a number of incidents in the past." | Speaking at a security conference in Jerusalem, Gen Brun said: "To the best of our professional understanding, the regime has made use of deadly chemical weapons against the rebels in a number of incidents in the past." |
He said photographs of victims foaming at the mouth and with constricted pupils and other unspecified symptoms "provide evidence that deadly chemical weapons have been used". | He said photographs of victims foaming at the mouth and with constricted pupils and other unspecified symptoms "provide evidence that deadly chemical weapons have been used". |
"Which chemical weapons? Apparently sarin. The regime is also using chemical weapons that neutralise and are not fatal," he said. | "Which chemical weapons? Apparently sarin. The regime is also using chemical weapons that neutralise and are not fatal," he said. |
There has so far not been any confirmation that chemical weapons have been used during Syria's two-year-old conflict although there have been numerous accusations. | There has so far not been any confirmation that chemical weapons have been used during Syria's two-year-old conflict although there have been numerous accusations. |
Mr Kerry said he had called the Israeli prime minister seeking confirmation chemical weapons had been used by the Syrian regime, adding that Mr Netanyahu "was not in a position to confirm that... I do not know yet what the facts are." | |
Last month, the Syrian government and rebels accused each other of using chemical weapons in an incident in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province. | Last month, the Syrian government and rebels accused each other of using chemical weapons in an incident in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province. |
A UN team is waiting for permission from Syria to enter the country to investigate the claims. | A UN team is waiting for permission from Syria to enter the country to investigate the claims. |
Syria is believed to possess large amounts of chemical weapons and there has been heightened concern among the international community in recent months about the safety of the stockpiles. | Syria is believed to possess large amounts of chemical weapons and there has been heightened concern among the international community in recent months about the safety of the stockpiles. |
On Monday, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on a visit to Israel that the use of chemical weapons by Syria against its people would be a "game-changer". | On Monday, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on a visit to Israel that the use of chemical weapons by Syria against its people would be a "game-changer". |
His remarks echoed a warning by President Obama in December that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would face "consequences" if he used such weapons. | His remarks echoed a warning by President Obama in December that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would face "consequences" if he used such weapons. |
Syria has repeatedly said it would never use chemical weapons against its own citizens. | Syria has repeatedly said it would never use chemical weapons against its own citizens. |
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