Israel, West On High Preparednesss, Assads Last Warning Before Using Chemical Weapons

The danger that Syrian ruler Bashar Assad will now resort to chemical warfare shot up Saturday afternoon, Dec. 8, after the rebels captured the “chloride factory” at Al Safira east of Aleppo

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Saturday he has seen “some evidence” that Bashar Assad’s regime is preparing to use chemical weapons against Syrian rebels, AFP reported.

“We have seen some evidence of that,” Hague said to reporters in Manama at a regional security conference.

“We and the US, as I said in parliament this week, have seen some evidence of that and that is why we have issued strong warnings about it. We have done so directly to the Syrian regime,” AFP quoted him as saying.

Asked what evidence had been presented, Hague commented: “We absolutely cannot be specific about that because clearly those are intelligence sources that these things come from.”

Commenting on Western intervention, Hague stated that military intervention had not been ruled out, adding: “We have contingency plans concerning chemical weapons but will not disclose them,” according to AFP.

“Recently we have been receiving alarming news that the Syrian government may be preparing to use chemical weapons. We have no confirmed reports on this matter,” UN chief Ban said after visiting a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey.

Ban said he had spoken on Thursday with the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about ways to investigate the reports but no concrete plan had yet emerged.

Earlier report: US, Turkish, British, Jordanian and French forces stand ready around Syrian borders awaiting the order to go forward still to come from US President Barack Obama. debkafile:

President Bashar Assad is regrouping his army in defense array in strategic parts of Damascus, while planting mines and bomb traps in abandoned bases. Convoys carrying missiles, shells and canisters armed with chemical weapons continue to ply roads to the north, while the airlift of Iranian arms is rerouted to Palmyra. Continue to article source

This is a codename for the Syrian army’s biggest chemical weapons store and base, which also houses Syrian Scud D missiles armed with chemical warheads adjusted to fire at Israel.

Assad’s warning to the rebels not to fight with chemical weapons is taken as a means of justifying his own resort to chemical weapons and brought this threat closer than ever before.

The West, Israel and Syria’s other neighbors have gone on elevated preparedness. debkafile file: The fall of Al Safira into rebel hands crosses a red line and places the Assad regime in direct peril.

Possession of the chemical-tipped Scuds gives the rebels their strongest weapon for forcing the Syria army to capitulate.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said earlier Saturday that the UK and the US have seen evidence that Syria is preparing to use chemical weapons.

There was enough evidence from intelligence sources to know “that they need a warning,” he said at a security conference in Bahrain. “The President of the United Sates warned of serious consequences and he meant it,” said the British minister.

Debka File Link: http://www.debka.com/article/22596/