A Free Syrian Army fighter prays inside a room as he is pictured through a hole in a wall in Deir al-Zor August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Free Syrian Army fighters stand on a back of a vehicle as they hold their weapons in Deir al-Zor August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Free Syrian Army fighters chat as they sit inside a damaged room in Deir al-Zor August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Syrian state TV has quoted Assad as saying "Syria will defend itself in the face of any aggression".
"The threats of direct aggression against Syria will only increase our commitment to our deep-rooted principles and the independent will of our people. Syria will defend itself in the face of any aggression." - Assad, speaking to a delegation of Yemeni politicians, according to Syrian state television.
(Reporting by Oliver Holmes; Editing by Jon Boyle)
US strike on Syria would bring Israel's destruction, says Iranian commander
DUBAI - Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief said a U.S. military attack on Syria would lead to the "imminent destruction" of Israel and would prove a "second Vietnam" for America, according to an Iranian news agency.
Shi'ite Muslim Iran, an arch-enemy of Israel, is supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against mainly Sunni Muslim rebels trying to oust him in a two-and-a-half-year-old revolt.
Iran has blamed the rebels for a suspected chemical weapons on Aug. 21 that killed hundreds of civilians. Opposition activists blame Assad's forces, Washington has agreed and President Barack Obama made the case for a limited military strike against Syria in response to the chemical attack.
Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in an interview late on Wednesday with the Tasnim news agency that a U.S. strike on Syria would not help Israel.
"An attack on Syria will mean the imminent destruction of Israel," Jafari said, according to Tasnim.
The interview was widely picked up by Iranian media on Thursday. Tasnim, which launched in 2012, says on its website that it is devoted to "defending the Islamic Revolution against negative media propaganda".
Jafari, as quoted by Tasnim, also warned the United States that it risked embroilment in a costly and protracted struggle if it intervened in Syria.
"Syria will turn into a more dangerous and deadly battlefield than the Vietnam War, and in fact, Syria will become the second Vietnam for the United States," he said.
(Reporting By Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Pope and Jordan's king agree dialogue is "only option" for Syria crisis
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and King Abdullah of Jordan agreed during a meeting on Thursday that dialogue among Syrians with the backing of the international community was the "only option" to bring an end to the conflict in Syria, the Vatican said in a statement.
Abdullah flew to Rome specifically to meet the pope to discuss the Mideast crisis. The king, Queen Rania and the pope spoke privately for 20 minutes in the Vatican's apostolic palace.
(Reporting By Philip Pullella)
An aide of German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agree there must be a reaction the Syrian gas attack, and they hope for a prompt U.N. report.
Britain's intelligence committee says evidence shows that it is "highly likely" the Syrian government was behind last week's chemical attack.
Britain says it would be legally entitled to take military action against Syria even if the U.N. Security Council blocked such action.
Britain's intelligence committee says a chemical attack did take place in Syria last week, and that there is "some" intelligence to suggest "regime culpability".
Here's a brief write-up on the conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande:
Merkel and Hollande agree need for reaction to Syrian gas attack
BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed in a phone call there must be a reaction to the poison gas attack in Syria that violated human rights, Merkel's spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.
"They hope for a quick end to the U.N.'s investigation mission and an immediate report to the U.N. Security Council so that it can fulfil its responsibility with regards to this monstrous crime," the statement read.
Just four weeks before elections in which Merkel hopes to win a third term, she faces a balancing act in how to respond to pictures of the chemical weapons attack, as German voters overwhelmingly oppose military action there.
(Reporting By Sarah Marsh; Editing by Jon Boyle)
And a little more detail on the conversation between the Pope and Jordan's King Abdullah:
Pope and Jordanian king agree dialogue is the "only option" in Syria
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and King Abdullah of Jordan agreed on Thursday that dialogue was the "only option" to end the conflict in Syria, the Vatican said, as the United States and its allies weighed plans for a military strike.
Abdullah flew to Rome specifically to meet the pope to discuss the Middle East crisis. The king, Queen Rania and the pope spoke privately for 20 minutes in the Vatican's apostolic palace.
The king and the pontiff "reaffirmed that the path of dialogue and negotiations among all components of Syrian society, with the backing of the international community, is the only option to end the conflict and the violence that each day cause the loss of so many human lives, most of all among the defenceless population", the Vatican said in a statement.
Last Sunday, the pope spoke of "atrocious acts" following an apparent poison gas attack that residents in a Damascus neighbourhood say killed hundreds of people.
The pope and the king met a day after U.S. officials described plans for multi-national strikes on Syria that could last for days, and as Washington and its European and Middle East allies said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must face retribution for using banned weapons against his people.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella, Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Russia sends warships to Mediterranean as Syria tension rises
By Timothy Heritage
MOSCOW - Russia is sending two warships to the east Mediterranean, Interfax news agency said on Thursday, but Moscow denied this meant it was beefing up its naval force there as Western powers prepare for military action against Syria.
There is a lot of talk about Western leaders and what they should or shouldn't do but much less about the responsibility of Russia and Iran. Why are they so unwilling to intervene when such a crime has been committed and when will it be against international law not to intervene when illegal weapons are used against civilians? I believe it's time to ask more from the 'Eastern leaders'.
by Ignorant 8/29/2013 12:10:41 PM
A Free Syrian Army fighter hands a rifle to his fellow fighter as they stand on a ladder inside a room in Deir al-Zor August 28, 2013. Picture taken August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Free Syrian Army fighters look through a hole in a wall in Deir al-Zor August 28, 2013. Picture taken August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
A Free Syrian Army fighter runs as he holds his weapon in Al Rasheddin, Aleppo, August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano
UK publishes legal and intelligence data backing a strike on Syria
LONDON - Britain's government published internal legal advice it had been given on Thursday which it said showed it was legally entitled to take military action against Syria even if the United Nations Security Council blocked such action.
It also published intelligence material on last week's chemical weapons attack in Syria, saying there was no doubt that such an attack had taken place, that it was "highly likely" that the Syrian government had been behind it, and that there was "some" intelligence to suggest that was the case.
(Reporting By Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
and how do we know who is actually responsible? has anyone got the evidence it was Assad et al? The west seem awfully impatient to start missile strikes without sharing and proof of blame. what if it was an American false flag operation? (http://in.news.yahoo.com/us-backed-plan-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-syria-045648224.html). I'm sorry, but I don't believe everything the governments spoon feed us. This all stinks, just like Iraq did. Blair and Bush still have to answer for what they did.
by things that make you go hmm 8/29/2013 12:41:48 PM
Escalation in Syria will worsen humanitarian situation - Red Cross
GENEVA - An escalation of the Syrian crisis in the wake of the apparent use of chemical weapons will worsen the situation in the country where the suffering of civilians has reached unprecedented levels, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
In a statement on Thursday, the ICRC said it was appalled by reports of chemical weapons being used on Aug. 21 and said there were acute shortages of vital medical supplies, food and water in a number of areas cut off from aid for months.
"Further escalation will likely trigger more displacement and add to humanitarian needs, which are already immense," said Magne Barth, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria. "In large parts of rural Damascus for example, people are dying because they lack medical supplies and because there are not enough medical personnel to attend to them."
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
The full assessment from the British government's Joint Intelligence Committee can be found here: Syria: reported chemical weapons use - Joint Intelligence Committee letter
Here are some key excerpts of the assessment:
"A chemical attack occurred in Damascus on the morning of 21 August, resulting in at least 350 fatalities. It is not possible for the opposition to have carried out a chemical weapons attack on this scale. The regime has used chemical weapons on a smaller scale on at least 14 occasions in the past. There is some intelligence to suggest regime culpability in this attack. These factors make it highly likely that the Syrian regime was responsible.
"Extensive video footage attributed to the attack in eastern Damascus (which we assess would be very difficult to falsify) is consistent with the use of a nerve agent, such as sarin, and is not consistent with the use of blister or riot control agents.
"There is no obvious political or military trigger for regime use of chemical weapons on an apparently larger scale now, particularly given the current presence in Syria of the UN investigation team. Permission to authorise chemical weapons has probably been delegated by President Assad to senior regime commanders, such as, but any deliberate change in the scale and nature of use would require his authorisation.
"There is no credible evidence that any opposition group has used chemical weapons. A number continue to seek a chemical weapons capability, but none currently has the capability to conduct a chemical weapons attack on this scale."
(Reporting by Andrew Osborn and William James; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Mark Heinrich)
And some key excerpts from the letter from Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee, Jon Day, to Prime Minister David Cameron:
"It is being claimed, including by the regime, that the attacks were either faked or undertaken by the Syrian Armed Opposition. We have tested this assertion using a wide range of intelligence and open sources, and invited HMG (Her Majesty's Government) and outside experts to help us establish whether such a thing is possible. There is no credible intelligence or other evidence to substantiate the claims or the possession of chemical weapons) by the opposition. The Joint Intelligence Committee has therefore concluded that there are no plausible alternative scenarios to regime responsibility.
"We also have a limited but growing body of intelligence which supports the judgement that the regime was responsible for the attacks and that they were conducted to help clear the Opposition from strategic parts of Damascus. Some of this intelligence is highly sensitive but you have had access to it all.
"Against that background, the Joint Intelligence Committee concluded that it is highly likely that the regime was responsible for the chemical weapons attacks on 21 August. The Joint Intelligence Committee had high confidence in all of its assessments except in relation to the regime's precise motivation for carrying out an attack of this scale at this time."
Cameron on military action against #Syria: "I want this debate to bring the country together, not divide it."
Cameron argues that Labour proposal is too weak. Says it doesn't blame Assad for chemical attacks.
Cameron says it would be "unthinkable" to take military action against Syria if there was "overwhelming opposition" in the U.N. Security Council.
Cameron: The biggest risk to the #Syria crisis is if the US and UK "stand back and do nothing."
by Jim Roberts via twitter 8/29/2013 2:02:26 PM
Cameron: "Our actions won't be determined by my good friend and ally, the United States president."
Simon Hughes. "Will he assure us that he will continue to engage however difficult with Russia and the other countries?"
"Will this radicalise more young Muslim, including here in Britain?"-Cameron.
Italian PM says Italy will not join Syrian operation unless UN backs it
ROME - Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Thursday Italy would not join any military operation against Damascus without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council.
"If the United Nations doesn't back it, Italy will not participate," he told Italy's RAI state radio, but added that Italy fully backed international condemnation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"The international community has to respond strongly to Assad and his regime and to the horrors which have been committed," he said, referring to reported chemical weapons attacks blamed on the Syrian government.
(Reporting by James Mackenzie; editing by Andrew Roche)
How can we just watch and wait?
"We must recognise the scepticism and the concerns after Iraq are addressed."
"we must not let the spectre of previous mistakes to paralyse doing what is right"-Cameron
Cameron Syria speech in summary - This is a judgement. Will Assad be more or less likely to use chemical weapons if we take no action?
Miliband" "I start by joining the PM at revulsion...this was a moral outrage and the international community is right to condemn"
Ed Miliband says repeatedly that he does not 'rule out' military intervention in Syria
Cameron keeps speaking of 1925 treaty prohibiting chemical weapons. Here it is: http://bit.ly/16TptOM
He has done this twice. He wll do it again i not stopped.
"We strain every sinew to work with the international institutions we have in this world."-Miliband.
"Today could not have been the day when the House was asked to decide on military action."-Miliband. Since the UN hasn't reported yet.
Malcom Rifkind to Miliband:"Why can he not therefore support the govenrment's motion in order that the House can speak with a united voice?"
"The U.N. is not some inconvenient side-show" - Miliband.
"We've got to learn the lessons of Iraq". Miliband says co-ordinating with the UN is the main one.