BICOM

US President Obama issued a stern warning to Syria’s embattled President Assad as concerns grow that he is making preparations for the possible use of chemical weapons.

Syria is believed to have the world’s third largest chemical arsenal and has in the past been a major source of weaponry for Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon. Western leaders have previously expressed concerns that Syria’s chemical stockpile could find its way into terrorist hands in the chaos of the country’s conflict or that President Assad may turn non-conventional weapons on his own people in a desperate bid to retain power.

These fears have apparently been heightened over the past few days. The Times reports that Syrian regime forces have begun to move chemical weapons around the country while AFP detailed the concerns of a US official over apparent Syrian attempts to fix artillery shells with sarin gas.

Speaking in Washington yesterday, President Obama sent a blunt warning to the Syrian regime, saying “Today, I want to make it absolutely clear to Assad and those under his command, the world is watching. The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable… If you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons there will be consequences and you will be held accountable.”

Meanwhile, The Atlantic reported yesterday that Jordan has turned down several Israeli requests for ‘permission’ to bomb Syrian chemical weapons sites over the past two months, fearing a Syrian military response on its territory.

In a further sign of growing instability in Syria, the United Nations yesterday announced that non-essential foreign personnel are being withdrawn from the country and that remaining staff will not be travelling outside of the capital Damascus. A UN official explained, “The security situation has become extremely difficult.”