*WASHINGTON DC: *The United States is weighing a multinational militaryresponse to the suspected Syrian poison gas attack, US officials told*Reuters* on Monday, as experts listed several key facilities that could beviable targets.
US President Donald Trump promised forceful action on Monday, saying adecision would be made soon following the suspected chemical weapons attacklate on Saturday in the Syrian city of Douma that killed at least 60 peopleand injured more than 1,000 others.
US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity did not disclose anyplans, but acknowledged military options were being developed. The WhiteHouse, Pentagon and State Department declined to comment on specificoptions or whether military action was likely.
Experts on Syria’s war cited France and perhaps even Britain and MiddleEast allies as potential partners in any US military operation, which wouldaim to discourage future chemical weapons use in Syria’s brutal civilwar.President Emmanuel Macron warned in February that France would strikeSyria if it broke treaties prohibiting chemical weapons. France has morethan a dozen warplanes in the Middle East and could look to strike from thesea.
British UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters that Britain “wouldprefer to start with a proper investigation” but that all options were onthe table and London was in close contact with its US and French allies.
US intelligence officials said they believed a chemical attack did takeplace but that Washington was still gathering information. Trump said hewas getting clarity about who precisely was responsible for the attack, butdid not elaborate.