Clinton Says "Desperate" Assad Could Resort to Chemical Weapons

Western powers have agreed to send Patriot anti-missile batteries to the Turkish border amid concerns that Syria could ramp up its attacks.

Published

almost 5 years ago

Categories

World

Topics

Middle East & North Africa, United States, Europe

People

Bashar al-Assad, Hillary Clinton

Places

Syria, United States of America, Turkey, Belgium, Ankara, Damascus

Tags

nato

Transcript

As Syrians mourn the death of 13 children in Damascus --- this assessment from the U.S. about the Syria's leadership. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying: "Our concerns are that an increasingly desperate Assad regime might turn to chemical weapons or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within Syria. And so, as part of the absolute unity that we all have on this issue, we have sent an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line and those responsible would be held to account." Her remarks came after a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Belgium where western power agreed to send Patriot anti-missile batteries to Turkey. Ankara has been in talks with allies about different ways to shore up security on its border. Turkey is already s battling an endless stream of refugees. Misdirected fire from Syrian bombing raids on border towns has only added to the stress.