US suspects Syria preparing a chemical weapons attack, warns of ‘heavy price’
Washington — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may be preparing another chemical weapons attack, one that would result in the "mass murder" of civilians, the White House said on Monday, warning the regime would pay a "heavy price" if it went ahead with such an assault. The White House said the preparations were similar to those undertaken by the Assad regime ahead of an apparent chemical attack on a rebel-held town in April. Washington launched a retaliatory cruise missile strike days later against a Syrian air base from where it said the chemical weapons attack was launched. That assault with 59 Tomahawk missiles marked the first direct US attack on the Syrian regime and President Donald Trump’s most dramatic military action since he took power in January. It also led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow, which accused the US of breaking international law. Russia has supported the Syrian regime since 2015 with air strikes against what it says are Islamist...
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