'US mulls way to hit Syria chemical weapons sites'

Senior US official says Pentagon is preparing various military options; Iran and Egypt meet to discuss possible US action.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Pentagon 311 (photo credit: Digital Vision)
The Pentagon 311
(photo credit: Digital Vision)
There is increasing speculation that Washington is considering an aerial or sea missile attack on Syrian chemical weapons sites, a CNN correspondent reported on Monday.
The report quoted an anonymous senior administration official as saying, "there is intensified planning in the works."
"As the situation in Syria becomes more grave and as we are increasingly concerned about chemical weapons use in Syria, it's the responsibility of the US military to prepare detailed options," the official said.
US President Barack Obama has not asked for the strike options yet, but the Pentagon is preparing all military options, the official continued. Foot troops involvement has been discussed, but a missile strike is a far likelier scenario, even though Syrian chemical stockpiles are constantly moved around the country to avoid being located.
Israel has joined Turkey and Jordan in discussions about possible courses of action if Syria threatens them with the use of chemical weapons, according to the report.
There is increasing speculation that Washington is considering an aerial or sea missile attack on Syrian chemical weapons sites, a CNN correspondent reported on Monday.
The report quoted an anonymous senior administration official as saying, "there is intensified planning in the works."
"As the situation in Syria becomes more grave and as we are increasingly concerned about chemical weapons use in Syria, it's the responsibility of the US military to prepare detailed options," the official said.
US President Barack Obama has not asked for the strike options yet, but the Pentagon is preparing all military options, the official continued. Foot troops involvement has been discussed, but a missile strike is a far likelier scenario, even though Syrian chemical stockpiles are constantly moved around the country to avoid being located.
Israel has joined Turkey and Jordan in discussions about possible courses of action if Syria threatens them with the use of chemical weapons, according to the report.
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Recently Egyptian and Iranian government officials conducted a meeting to discuss their growing concerns that the US may choose to carry out a military operation in Syria, Arab newspaper 'Al-Akhbar' reported.
"There are serious moves being made by the US that imply an imminent strike on Damascus," the paper quoted a senior Egyptian diplomat as saying.
The diplomat added that there is a general consensus that Israel would likely have a hand in a US military operation in Syria, the report said.