Russia: Reports of chemical weapons no grounds for invasion

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Saturday that reports of chemical weapons use by the Syrian army do not constitute sufficient grounds for military intervention in the war-torn country.

“We must check the information immediately and in conformity with international criteria, and not use it to achieve other objectives. It must not be a pretext for an intervention in Syria,” Bogdanov said during a visit to Beirut.

Bogdanov also expressed doubts that the chemical weapons attacks ever took place, calling for proof that such events actually occurred.

“If there is serious evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, it should be presented immediately and not concealed,” he said.

On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the US intelligence community now believes Syria has likely used chemical weapons on a “small scale” against its civilians.

Hagel added that the use of chemical weapons “violates every convention of warfare.”

The statement came on the heels of a public declaration Tuesday by the Israeli army’s top intelligence analyst that forces loyal to President Assad had used sarin gas against rebel forces and civilians, information which may push the US closer to intervening in the two-year-old conflict.

The White House, however, said the news would not necessarily trigger a response.

On Friday, US President Barack Obama insisted that any use of chemical weapons by Syria would lead to a change in his policy towards US military involvement in the two year civil war — but said too little was known so far to order aggressive action now.

“For the Syrian government to utilize chemical weapons on its people crosses a line that will change my calculus and how the United States approaches these issues,” the president said.

Thus far, the Obama administration has limited its assistance to the Syrian rebels to nonlethal aid, including military-style equipment such as body armor and night vision goggles. The US has also deployed about 200 troops to Jordan to assist that country’s military, and has participated in NATO’s placement of Patriot missile batteries in Turkey near the border to protect against an attack from Syria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report