Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday said “it is undeniable” that chemical weapons were used in Syria last week and he pointed the finger at the Syrian regime for “this cowardly crime” and “the cynical attempt to cover it up.” In remarks at the State Department on Aug. 26, Kerry said the Administration is consulting with lawmakers and overseas allies, and President Obama “will be making an informed decision about how to respond to this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons.” The President, said Kerry, “believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world’s most heinous weapons against the world’s most vulnerable people”—civilians. Kerry said the United States is compiling additional evidence on the incident that it will release in the days ahead. The attack reportedly took place in a part of eastern Damascus. The evidence already before the world is “real” and “compelling,” said Kerry. It includes the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of those killed or injured, and firsthand accounts from humanitarian organizations on the ground, he said.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.