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US rethinks arming Syria rebels, says Chuck Hagel | US rethinks arming Syria rebels, says Chuck Hagel |
(about 7 hours later) | |
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has acknowledged his government is no longer ruling out arming Syrian rebels. | US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has acknowledged his government is no longer ruling out arming Syrian rebels. |
It is the first time a senior US official has said openly that the US is reconsidering its opposition to supplying weapons to rebel forces. | It is the first time a senior US official has said openly that the US is reconsidering its opposition to supplying weapons to rebel forces. |
President Barack Obama - who rejected such a proposal last year - said the US was now looking at "all options". | President Barack Obama - who rejected such a proposal last year - said the US was now looking at "all options". |
Meanwhile, allegations are emerging that Syrian forces carried out summary executions near the city of Banias. | Meanwhile, allegations are emerging that Syrian forces carried out summary executions near the city of Banias. |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said it was trying to verify reports that troops had killed at least 50 people, including women and children, in the north-western village of al-Bayda. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said it was trying to verify reports that troops had killed at least 50 people, including women and children, in the north-western village of al-Bayda. |
The activist group monitors human rights violations on both sides of the conflict via a network of contacts across Syria. | The activist group monitors human rights violations on both sides of the conflict via a network of contacts across Syria. |
Heavy fighting erupted on Thursday morning between government forces and rebels near the village. | Heavy fighting erupted on Thursday morning between government forces and rebels near the village. |
'Best way' | 'Best way' |
As the fighting drags on in Syria, the debate about what the US should do has intensified in Washington. | As the fighting drags on in Syria, the debate about what the US should do has intensified in Washington. |
Speaking in Washington, Mr Hagel confirmed the US was reconsidering its opposition to providing weapons to rebels, but stressed that no decision had been made yet. | Speaking in Washington, Mr Hagel confirmed the US was reconsidering its opposition to providing weapons to rebels, but stressed that no decision had been made yet. |
"Arming the rebels - that's an option," he told reporters. | "Arming the rebels - that's an option," he told reporters. |
"You look at and rethink all options. It doesn't mean you do or you will. These are options that must be considered with the international community: what is possible, what can help accomplish [our] objectives." | "You look at and rethink all options. It doesn't mean you do or you will. These are options that must be considered with the international community: what is possible, what can help accomplish [our] objectives." |
Mr Hagel made the comments at a joint news conference with British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond. | Mr Hagel made the comments at a joint news conference with British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond. |
Mr Hammond said the UK had so far been unable to provide weapons because of an EU ban on arming the rebels. | Mr Hammond said the UK had so far been unable to provide weapons because of an EU ban on arming the rebels. |
But "we will look at the situation when that ban expires in a few weeks' time," he added. | But "we will look at the situation when that ban expires in a few weeks' time," he added. |
Later on Thursday, President Obama said during a visit to Mexico that the US was "continually evaluating the situation on the ground... to find the best way to move a political transition". | Later on Thursday, President Obama said during a visit to Mexico that the US was "continually evaluating the situation on the ground... to find the best way to move a political transition". |
"As we've seen evidence of further bloodshed, potential use of chemical weapons inside of Syria, what I've said is that we're going to look at all options," Mr Obama added. | "As we've seen evidence of further bloodshed, potential use of chemical weapons inside of Syria, what I've said is that we're going to look at all options," Mr Obama added. |
With no appetite for direct military intervention, many US officials increasingly feel that arming the rebels is now the least worst option, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington reports. | With no appetite for direct military intervention, many US officials increasingly feel that arming the rebels is now the least worst option, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington reports. |
US allies such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already providing weapons to various groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces. | US allies such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already providing weapons to various groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces. |
The pressure to act has intensified in recent days after emerging evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons such as the nerve gas sarin. | The pressure to act has intensified in recent days after emerging evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons such as the nerve gas sarin. |
President Obama last week promised a "vigorous investigation" into the issue, warning that it would be a "game changer" for US policy if the reports were to be proved true. | President Obama last week promised a "vigorous investigation" into the issue, warning that it would be a "game changer" for US policy if the reports were to be proved true. |
But Mr Hagel and his British counterpart indicated that existing evidence of alleged chemical weapon was not sufficient to trigger an international response. | |
Mr Hammond said the public still remembered that claims of weapons of mass destruction, which led to the Iraq invasion in 2003, turned out to be incorrect. | Mr Hammond said the public still remembered that claims of weapons of mass destruction, which led to the Iraq invasion in 2003, turned out to be incorrect. |
"There is a very strong view that we have to have very clear, very high-quality evidence before we make plans and act on that evidence," he said. | "There is a very strong view that we have to have very clear, very high-quality evidence before we make plans and act on that evidence," he said. |
"If there were future use of chemical agents, that would generate new opportunities for us to establish a clear evidence of use to a legal standard of evidence." | "If there were future use of chemical agents, that would generate new opportunities for us to establish a clear evidence of use to a legal standard of evidence." |
The Syrian government has dismissed claims that its forces have used chemical weapons, saying that the Western accusations "do not have any credibility". | The Syrian government has dismissed claims that its forces have used chemical weapons, saying that the Western accusations "do not have any credibility". |
More than 70,000 people have been killed since fighting between Syrian forces and rebels erupted in March 2011. | More than 70,000 people have been killed since fighting between Syrian forces and rebels erupted in March 2011. |