US smells second ‘Sarin’ strike

Washington/Moscow: The US warning that Syria may be preparing another chemical weapons attack was based on suspect activity at the launch site of the regime’s apparent chemical strike in April, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

“We have seen activity at Shayrat airfield... that indicated preparations for possible use of chemical weapons,” said Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis. “This involved a specific aircraft, a specific hangar— both of which we know to be associated with chemical weapon use.”

The White House earlier said that another chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would result in the “mass murder” of civilians warning the regime would pay a “heavy price” if it goes ahead.

Washington launched a retaliatory cruise missile strike days later against a Syrian airbase from where it said the chemical weapons attack was launched.

British defence secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC on Tuesday morning that he would support US military action in case of a Syria chemical attack. “As always in war, the military action you use must be justified, it must be legal, it must proportionate, it must be necessary. In the last case it was,” Fallon said.

The Kremlin was quick to respond saying the US warning is unacceptable.“I am not aware of any information about a threat that chemical weapons can be used,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Certainly, we consider such threats to the legitimateleadership of the Syrian Arab Republic unacceptable.”