There is undeniable evidence of a chemical attack in Syria: John Kerry

S Secretary of State John Kerry says there is “undeniable” evidence of a large-scale chemical weapons attack in Syria, with intelligence pointing to Basharal-Assad’s government — a claim Assad called “preposterous.’’

Kerry said that international standards against chemical weapons “cannot be violated without consequences”. His tough language marked the clearest justification yet for US military action in Syria, which, if President Barack Obama decides to approve, most likely would involve sea-launched cruise missile attacks on Syrian military targets.

“By any standard, it is inexcusable and — despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured — it is undeniable,’’ said Kerry, the highest-ranking US official to confirm the attack in the Damascus suburbs that activists say killed hundreds of people. Meanwhile US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview with the BBC that the military is ready to act immediately should Obama order action against Syria.

“We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfil and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take,” Hagel said. Asked if the US military was ready to respond just “like that,” Hagel said: “We are ready to go, like that.” Obama has not decided how to respond to the use of deadly gases, officials said. The US, along with allies in Europe, appeared to be laying the groundwork for the most aggressive response since Syria’s civil war began over two years ago.

US Could Look Beyond UN

The international community appeared to be considering action that would punish Assad for deploying deadly gases, not sweeping measures aimed at ousting the Syrian leader or strengthening rebel forces. The focus of the internal debate underscores the scant international appetite for a large-scale deployment of forces in Syria.

The Obama administration was moving ahead even as a UN team in Syria collected evidence from last week’s attack. The US said Syria’s delay in giving the inspectors access rendered their investigation meaningless. UN officials disagreed that it was too late.

It’s unclear whether Obama would seek authority from the UN or Congress before using force. The president has spoken frequently about his preference for taking military action only with international backing, but it is likely Russia and China would block US efforts to authorise action through the UN Security Council.

Military experts and US officials said that the precision strikes would probably come during the night and target key military sites. The president has ruled out putting American troops on the ground in Syria and officials say they are not considering setting up a unilateral no-fly zone. On Capitol Hill, bipartisan support for a military response appeared to be building, with some lawmakers calling for targeted strikes.

Sources say that Western powers have told the Syrian opposition, the Syrian National Coalition, to expect a strike against Assad’s forces within days.

However, it’s unlikely that the US would launch a strike against Syria while the UN team is still in the country. The administration may also try to time any strike around Obama’s travel schedule — he’s due to hold meetings in Sweden and Russia next week —in order to avoid having the commander in chief abroad when the US launches military action.