Calm Before the Storm

U.S. Prepares to Act on Syria

Convinced Syria used chemical weapons against its own people.

A deluge of previously undisclosed evidence has led U.S. officials to believe that the Syrian government did indeed use chemical weapons against its own people, prompting French, British, and American officials to talk on Tuesday about coordinating a response to the alleged attacks. Satellite images and intercepted communications reinforced the conclusion that the Syrian government attacked. Tuesday’s talks mark a sharp departure from the U.S. and its allies’ position as late as Friday, when United Nations inspectors were still asking Syria for permission to inspect the areas of the alleged attacks. On Sunday however, the U.S. urged the United Nations to pull the inspectors out of Syria, setting the stage for a potential miilitary response, according to officials.