Politics
21:30, 28-Jun-2017
Mattis: Syria takes US chemical attack warning 'seriously'
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Syria has heeded a US warning against carrying out a fresh chemical weapons attack, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Wednesday.
"It appears that they took the warning seriously," Mattis told reporters, referring to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The White House on Monday took the unusual step of warning Assad of paying "a heavy price" if his government decided to conduct another chemical weapons attack. Washington said it had identified "potential preparations" for such an act.
A suspected chemical attack was conducted in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria in April, killing over 70 people, including women and children. The Syrian government had denied being behind the attack.
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