There Will Be Price to Pay for Chemical Weapons Use: Pence
US Vice President Mike Pence today warned the Syrian regime against using chemical weapons, saying there will be a price to pay for such a misadventure.
Washington, Apr 14 (PTI) US Vice President Mike Pence today warned the Syrian regime against using chemical weapons, saying there will be a price to pay for such a misadventure.
The US and its allies France and Britain launched air strikes, targeting sites associated with Syria's chemical weapons capabilities.
The joint operation was in response to a suspected chemical attack in the city of Douma last week.
There "will be a price to pay" if Syria ever uses chemical weapons again, as the US is ready to take additional action, Pence told reporters travelling with him to Peru to attend the Summit of the Americas.
Pence repeatedly praised the "strong leadership" of President Donald Trump and American allies in responding to the chemical attacks in Syria.
Calling the strike "successful" and an "extraordinary success", Trump said the strike "degraded and crippled" and "significantly eroded" Syria's ability to use chemical weapons.
"This was the morally right act to take," he said.
Pence said that the Trump administration considered every potential response in developing its plan for the Syrian strike and its monitoring the environment for any retaliation.
There were almost daily calls between France, the UK and the US, he said in response to a question.
Pence said the administration is "absolutely" sure the Assad regime carried out the chemical attack.
At a minimum, Chlorine was used and he said that an investigation could show that Sarin was also used.
Responding to a question, Pence said that the US message to Russia is: "You're on the wrong side of history".
Noting that "you're known by the company you keep," Pence said Russia needs to join other nations in opposing the use of chemical weapons in Syria and "live up to the commitments they made".
This was Pence's first media interaction after US forces launched precision strikes against Assad regime targets associated with the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
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