U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the threat of force against Syria is real if that country fails to live up to its agreement to rid itself of chemical weapons.
Kerry said in Jerusalem Sunday that the government of Bashar al-Assad needs to understand that the United States is committed to achieving this goal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Kerry. Mr. Netanyahu said it is deeds, not words, that count. He said Syria proves that if rogue regimes have weapons of mass destruction, they will use them.
Mr. Netanyahu said the world’s determination on Syria will directly impact Iran, which is suspected of building a nuclear weapon. Israel sees Iran as a direct threat to its existence.
The United States and Russia announced agreement Saturday on a plan to end Syria’s chemical weapons program. It includes a requirement for the Assad government to submit a comprehensive list of such weapons in one week.
Syria is promising to comply. National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar tells Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency that that the agreement is a victory because he says it avoids war against Syria and takes away the excuse for war from those who he says want to start one.
But the civil war in Syria is showing no signs of easing. Government warplanes on Sunday bombed rebel areas outside Damascus. There is no word so far on casualties.
