The White House says there is "very little doubt" that the Assad regime is responsible for the alleged chemical attack in Syria that is said to have taken place earlier this week.
"Based on the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured, witness accounts, and other facts," a senior administration official tells ABC News, "There is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this incident. We are continuing to assess the facts so the President can make an informed decision about how to respond to this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons."
White House officials also point out the attack was on rebel-held territory and apparently done using rockets that the rebels do not possess.
After reports that Syria's regime will allow UN inspectors to access the site of the attack, the senior administration official suggested the move may be too late, after "the regime's persistent shelling" has "significantly corrupted" evidence in the area.
"If the Syrian government had nothing to hide and wanted to prove to the world that it had not used chemical weapons in this incident, it would have ceased its attacks on the area and granted immediate access to the UN-five days ago. At this juncture, the belated decision by the regime to grant access to the UN team is too late to be credible," the official said.
"Based on the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured, witness accounts, and other facts," a senior administration official tells ABC News, "There is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this incident. We are continuing to assess the facts so the President can make an informed decision about how to respond to this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons."
White House officials also point out the attack was on rebel-held territory and apparently done using rockets that the rebels do not possess.After reports that Syria's regime will allow UN inspectors to access the site of the attack, the senior administration official suggested the move may be too late, after "the regime's persistent shelling" has "significantly corrupted" evidence in the area.
"If the Syrian government had nothing to hide and wanted to prove to the world that it had not used chemical weapons in this incident, it would have ceased its attacks on the area and granted immediate access to the UN-five days ago. At this juncture, the belated decision by the regime to grant access to the UN team is too late to be credible," the official said.
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