Iran warned of dire consequences if the United States launches a military response against Syria ahead of the UN investigation of claims that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against civilians.
An allegation the Syrian government vehemently denies.
According to a FARS news report Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri “condemned” the US officials’ statements that Washington is reviewing the military option for Syria, and warned that “military intervention in the Muslim country will have grave consequences for Washington.”
His remarks came after US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel claimed that the White House is studying different military options against Syria.
“The US knows Syria’s redline and crossing over this line will have dire consequences for the White House,” Brigadier General Jazayeri said on Sunday (Source: Iranian Commander Refutes US Defense Secretary’s Remarks on Syria http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920603000637).
Meanwhile the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front terrorist group in a message on Sunday warned that it will soon launch chemical attacks of its own on the Shiite-populated cities in Syria.
In a two-minute audio message today, Al-Nusra Front Commander Abu Muhammad al-Joulani threatened the Syrian government to launch chemical attacks on the Shiite-dominated cities, adding that the terrorist group plans to use 1,000 rockets for the purpose. In his rambling message, Al-Joulani accused the Syrian government of launching chemical attack on a Damascus countryside, claiming that the group “entitled itself to respond with a similar attack.” (Source: Al-Nusra Front Threatens to Launch Chemical Attacks on Syrian Cities http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920603000517).
“What is interesting is the fact that the Al-Nursa front (part of the Free Syrian Army, which the United States and its allies are backing with weapons and arms) have basically admitted to having chemical weapons in the audio message”, said a source in Syria, which refused to be identified for fear of retaliation by FSA terrorists factions.
This information seems to confirm a report by Syrian state television that government soldiers found “chemical agents in rebel tunnels in the Damascus suburb of Jobar on Saturday ” (source: Syrian state TV: Government soldiers enter rebel tunnels, find chemical agents http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/24/20167606-syrian-state-tv-government-soldiers-enter-rebel-tunnels-find-chemical-agents?lite).
If these reports are true it could mean that the rebels were responsible for launching the most recent chemical rocket attack. An allegation made previously by Russia (source: Russia says chemical weapons rocket attack launched from area controlled by rebels in Syria http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981937830).
See also related story: Information Minister: We have incontrovertible proof that terrorists used chemical weapons http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/08/24/498973.htm