White House Accuses Assad of Planning Chemical Attack

The White House on Monday accused Syrian president Bashar al-Assad of planning another chemical weapons attack and warned that he will pay a heavy price if one takes place, Reuters reported.

“The United States has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

“If … Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price,” the statement said.

The White House did not explain what exact steps it would take in the event of a chemical weapons attack, but when Assad allegedly used his chemical arsenal in April, Washington responded by launching its first cruise-missile strike against Syrian government forces.

White House officials also did not identify what intelligence prompted the statement about Syria’s preparations for an attack, but an anonymous U.S. official told Reuters that intelligence officers had identified several sites where they suspected the Assad government may have been hiding newly made chemical weapons from inspectors.

According to the official, the U.S. warning was based on new reports of what was deemed abnormal activity that might be linked to preparations for a chemical attack.

The intelligence was not judged conclusive, but the administration swiftly decided to issue the public warning in an attempt to deter such a strike, the official added.

In April 2017, the Syrian regime was accused of carrying out a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province, killing at least 90 people.

SDF Advance in Raqqa

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces pushed the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) deeper into Raqqa city Monday as they advanced against the group on two fronts, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

The SDF advanced against ISIS militants in al-Rumaila district on the northeastern fringes of Raqqa city in a bid to capture the position. The Kurdish-led group is currently locked in heavy fighting in the area.

The Washington-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters also advanced to positions west of the city, following days of clashes in Raqqa’s al-Bareed and al-Qadisia districts.

On Sunday, the SDF said they captured al-Qadisia district from ISIS, Reuters reported. SOHR said that the Kurdish-led alliance has only secured half of the area and has reported heavy fighting in the district since.

The SDF launched a highly anticipated campaign to reclaim Raqqa from ISIS earlier this month. The group’s advances have been slowed down by ISIS fortifications erected around the city.

Pro-Government Forces Advance on Damascus Suburb

Syrian troops and allied forces seized territory from rebels in the eastern suburbs of the capital Damascus Monday, SOHR reported.

Pro-government forces captured a driving school in the Ain Terma district following fierce clashes with insurgent rebel groups in the area.

Syrian government forces also pushed against rebel groups in the Jubar district, more than 1 mile (1.6km) to the north, in a prelude to a wider offensive to capture the entire district.

Meanwhile, warplanes have launched several airstrikes in Jobar and Ain Terma since Monday, SOHR said.

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