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Israeli officials: ‘Clear’ chemical weapons used in Syria
A senior Israeli intelligence official said Wednesday it is “apparently clear” that chemical weapons were used in Syria.
Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister of intelligence and strategic affairs, told Israel’s Army Radio on Wednesday that the chemical weapons were used, although he did not say whether it was the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad or the opposition who conducted the attack, according to the Associated Press.
"It is apparently clear that chemical weapons were used," Steinitz said. "The fact they apparently used chemical weapons against civilians needs to worry us and shows the urgency of taking care of the issue.”
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni also told CNN Wednesday that "it is clear for us here in Israel" chemical weapons were used in Syria.
House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said there was a “high probability” chemical weapons were used.
The use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime would cross a “red line” set by President Obama and mark a turning point in the two-year conflict. The White House has warned there would be consequences for the Syrian government if chemical weapons were used.
The issue is now set to become a major topic during Obama’s visit to Israel this week, where he is meeting Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.
Syrian rebels and government forces blamed each other for using chemical weapons in the Tuesday attack in a town near Aleppo. There has not been confirmation that chemical weapons were used, however.
Opposition forces were calling for an international investigation on Wednesday, according to the Washington Post.
