Syria to use chemical weapons against foreign attack
July 23rd, 2012 - 6:12 pm ICT by IANSBeirut, July 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Syria may use chemical weapons only in the case of external aggression, Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said Monday.
The official said in Damascus that Syria will never use chemical weapons against civilians, and stressed that the weapon stocks were secure.
There has been considerable concern that Syria’s chemical weapons could fall into hostile hands, in particular insurgents fighting the government, or be used by government troops to defend the regime.
According to Globalsecurity.org, the Syrian arsenal is said to consist mostly of large amounts of nerve agents Sarin and Tabun, and mustard gas.
The exact volumes of chemical weapons in the Syrian stockpile were not known.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/mr
- Russia denies sending chemical weapons to Syria - Aug 21, 2012
- Russia reminds Syria of 1925 chemical weapons ban - Jul 25, 2012
- Obama warns Syria against using chemical weapons - Jul 24, 2012
- 'Terrorists may get hold of Syrian chemical weapons' - Jun 12, 2012
- Syria's use of chemical weapons unacceptable: Pentagon - Jul 25, 2012
- Israel on alert for Syrian weapons - Jul 19, 2012
- UNSC calls emergency meet on Syria massacre - May 28, 2012
- Russia ready to back Annan proposals on Syria in UNSC - Mar 21, 2012
- UN Syria envoy Kofi Annan to visit Russia - Mar 22, 2012
- Twin blasts kill 12 at Syria funeral - Aug 29, 2012
- No hostility for Turkey: Syria (Lead) - Jun 24, 2012
- Five Killed, many injured in Syria blast - Sep 04, 2012
- France ready to recognise Syrian opposition as government - Aug 28, 2012
- Russian airline to shut flights to Damascus - Jul 23, 2012
- UN Syria resolution unacceptable: Russia - Jul 13, 2012
Tags: arsenal, beirut, chemical weapons, civilians, damascus, external aggression, foreign ministry spokesman, government troops, hostile hands, insurgents, jihad, mustard gas, nerve agents, regime, ria novosti, sarin, stockpile, stocks, syria, tabun