Syrian officials threaten to use chemical or biological weapons

The Syrian regime, for the first time on Monday, acknowledged that it possessed stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and said it will only use them in case of a foreign attack, but never internally against its own citizens. Syria is believed to have nerve agents as well as mustard gas, Scud missiles capable of delivering lethal chemicals and a variety of advanced conventional arms, including anti-tank rockets and late-model portable anti-aircraft missiles. Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the stockpiles are secure, in perceptible response to widespread international concerns that they could fall into the hands of the disparate bands of rebel forces fighting the government.

“No chemical or biological weapons will ever be used, and I repeat, will never be used, during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria,” Makdissi said in a conference broadcast on state TV. “All of these types of weapons are in storage and under security and the direct supervision of the Syrian armed forces and will never be used unless Syria is exposed to external aggression.”