Excerpt
US warns Syria over ‘potential’ plan for chemical attack
The US says Syria's government appears to be preparing for a chemical weapons attack and has warned that it will "pay a very heavy price" if one takes place.
The White House said similar activities had been seen before the nerve agent Sarin was allegedly dropped on rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun in April.
Dozens of people were killed, prompting President Donald Trump to order a missile strike on a Syrian airbase.
Syria's government denies it is preparing a chemical attack.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has previously said the Khan Sheikhoun incident was fabricated.
What does the US claim?
On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said activity had been spotted at the Syrian army's Shayrat airfield, from where the US says jets departed before the Khan Sheikhoun incident.
"This involved specific aircraft in a specific hangar, both of which we know to be associated with chemical weapons use," Capt Davis said.
In a statement on Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the US had "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".
He added that if "Mr Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price".
The White House provided no supporting evidence or further explanation.
US media had reported that the state department and Pentagon were caught off-guard by the statement, suggesting they were not consulted in advance, but the White House later said all "were involved in the process from the beginning".
The US permanent representative to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, also warned Russia and Iran - Mr Assad's allies.
"Any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Assad, but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people," she tweeted.
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