The White House on Monday night issued a statement saying “potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack” by the Syrian regime have been detected.
“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,” the White House statement said, adding, “The activities are similar to preparations the regime made before its April 4, 2017 chemical weapons attack. As we have previously stated, the United States is in Syria to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price.”
The statement was tweeted by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Statements from @PressSec on pic.twitter.com/gEqPAf6WBk
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) June 27, 2017
In April, the US responded to the Syrian regime’s chemical attack on civilians in suburban Damascus by launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the airbase from which the warplanes responsible for the chemical attacks had flown.
President Donald Trump stated then: “It is in this vital national security of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.”