Panetta raises concerns about possible movement of Syrian chemical weapons
- 12 years ago
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, alongside his Canadian counterpart, says the main stockpiles of Syrian chemical weapons remain under the control of President Bashar al-Assad, although some weapons have been moved for security.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA:
"At this stage, with regards to, you know, the major sites that we're looking at, we do believe that those sites still remain secured by--, by the Syrian military. There has been intelligence that there have been some moves that have taken place. Where exactly that's taken place, we don't know. I don't have any specific information about the opposition, and whether or not they've obtained some of this, or how much they've obtained, and just exactly what's taken place. ...There has been some intelligence that that, with regards to some of these sites, that there has been some movement in order to - for the Syrians to better secure what they - the chemicals."
The United States has warned Syria that any attempt to deploy or use chemical weapons could provoke U.S. action.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA:
"At this stage, with regards to, you know, the major sites that we're looking at, we do believe that those sites still remain secured by--, by the Syrian military. There has been intelligence that there have been some moves that have taken place. Where exactly that's taken place, we don't know. I don't have any specific information about the opposition, and whether or not they've obtained some of this, or how much they've obtained, and just exactly what's taken place. ...There has been some intelligence that that, with regards to some of these sites, that there has been some movement in order to - for the Syrians to better secure what they - the chemicals."
The United States has warned Syria that any attempt to deploy or use chemical weapons could provoke U.S. action.