The British Guardian newspaper revealed intelligence reports indicating that the Syrian regime has recently started transferring sensitive components of chemical weapons across the country. This has sparked fears that the regime may be preparing to use chemical agents as weapons against opposition forces.
In this context, CNN cited a U.S. official stating that the Syrian regime has begun combining chemical substances capable of producing the deadly nerve agent sarin, potentially to use as a weapon against opposition forces and civilian populations.
According to CNN, the United States obtained intelligence over the weekend pointing to this development, as confirmed by a source directly familiar with the latest information on Syria.
The source, while declining to disclose further details about how the intelligence was obtained, mentioned that the sarin nerve agent could easily be used to fill artillery shells.
A second U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CNN, “It’s not just about the movement [of chemical weapons], but also the potential intent to ready certain chemical weapons for use.”
The network reported growing concerns among U.S. officials about the possibility of the regime deploying chemical weapons to crush its opponents, particularly as the conflict nears Damascus, leading to the temporary closure of Damascus International Airport.
