Paris ( CNN ) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that Saudi Arabia will support military intervention in Syria by the United States and its partners . `` They have supported the strike and they support taking action , '' Kerry said after a long meeting of Arab League ministers originally called to discuss the Mideast peace initiative . `` They believe that it 's very important to do that . '' Kerry told reporters he had a very good side meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal , and Saudi Arabia was one of the countries to sign on to a statement condemning the reported use of chemical weapons last month by the Syrian military against rebels . Saudi Arabia is a diplomatic heavyweight in the Arab world but has n't publicly called for an international military reprisal after the incident . With its vast air force and bases , Saudi Arabia could offer a lot of resources to Western militaries . But it 's not expected to participate directly in any attack on Syria , because that would be likely to inflame a widespread Arabian Peninsula antipathy against Western military forces intruding into Arab affairs . Kerry also said the Arab League ministers unanimously condemned the August 21 incident . `` As we discussed today , all of us agreed -- not one dissenter -- that ( Syrian President Bashar ) al-Assad 's deplorable use of chemical weapons -- which we know killed hundreds of innocent people , including at least 426 children on this occasion , this one occasion -- this crosses an international , global red line , '' he said . He said the foreign ministers discussed the `` possible and necessary measures '' needed to deter al-Assad from using chemical weapons again . Kerry said a `` number of countries immediately signed on '' to an agreement reached by 12 countries on the side at the recent G20 summit . And while he named Saudi Arabia as one of those nations , he said the others that had agreed to help would make their announcements in the next day . The statement called for a `` strong international response '' and `` supports efforts undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons . '' It did not expressly endorse military action , although U.S. officials said the nations who signed it interpreted the statement as tacit support for strikes . The Syrian government has denied being behind chemical weapons attacks , which it blames on rebels . Al-Assad on Sunday denied again he had anything to do with the use of chemical agents , U.S. journalist Charlie Rose reported . The PBS anchor and CBS `` This Morning '' co-host said al-Assad told him during an interview to be broadcast Monday that Syria was prepared to retaliate if there was a military strike by the United States and its partners . `` It does n't surprise us that someone who would kill thousands of his own people , including hundreds of children , with poison gas would also lie about it , '' a spokeswoman for the National Security Council , Bernadette Meehan , said . Al-Assad 's rare interview with U.S. media comes as U.S. President Barack Obama lobbies Congress and the country to support military action . Congress officially returns to Washington Monday after a monthlong summer recess to debate and vote on a resolution giving Obama the authorization to take military action . The president will go to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and make his case to Senate Democrats , a Senate leadership aide said Sunday . Obama will also address the nation on Syria Tuesday at 9 p.m . ET from the White House . Videos that purport to show the results of a chemical weapons attack are part of a White House campaign to inform Congress about the nature of the incident , Kerry said . `` The reason for this is to make sure everybody understands what is at stake , '' he said . `` Those videos make it clear to people that these are real human beings , real children , parents being affected in ways that are unacceptable to anybody , anywhere , by any standard . '' He said a vast majority of the members are undecided as to how they will vote on authorizing force against Syria . Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah appeared at the news conference with Kerry . `` Qatar is currently studying with its friends and the United Nations what it could provide in order to protect the Syrian people , '' he said , according to a translator . Kerry met later with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague in London on Sunday . Britain 's Parliament has ruled out getting militarily involved in Syria , but Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to continue to push for a tough response against the al-Assad regime . Kerry 's efforts with European allies paralleled those of his boss , Obama , who tried to rally members of the G20 in St. Petersburg , Russia , last week . Obama met with his Russian counterpart , President Vladimir Putin , on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg summit Friday . But despite both saying the talks were constructive , there was no sign of consensus . CNN 's Elise Labott reported from Paris . CNN 's Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta . CNN 's Nic Robertson , Nick Paton Walsh and Kevin Liptak contributed to this story .
NEW : President goes to talk Qatar on Capitol Hill on Tuesday . Qatar says it is exploring options on how to deal with Syria . Syrian president tells U.S. journalist that Syria is prepared to retaliate if U.S. sanctions . Syria faces ' international , global red line , ' he says .