Syria still has chemical arms, US says
TEL AVIV, Israel — Syria still stockpiles chemical weapons, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in Israel on Friday, warning against the banned munitions being used again.
The implication is that Syria may be concerned about additional U.S. strikes following the cruise missile attack earlier this month in retaliation for alleged Syrian use of sarin gas.
“There can be no doubt in the international community’s mind that Syria has retained chemical weapons in violation of its agreement and its statement that it had removed them all,” Mattis said.
Top Assad ally, Russia, has asserted a Syrian government air strike hit a rebel chemical weapons factory, causing the disaster.