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Great Britain and France have also raised similar concerns about chemical-weapon use in Syria.
Their use by the President Bashar Assad regime in the civil war that
has killed tens of thousands would appear to cross a "red line" that the
Obama ...
Hagel skeptical of Syria chemical weapons claims
CAIRO
— Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday cast doubt on an Israeli
general's conclusion that the Syrian government had used chemical
weapons against its own citizens.
Any U.S. response to Syria will be based on American intelligence findings, Hagel said in his first public remarks since an Israeli official alleged Monday that the Syria government had used chemical weapons.
"Suspicions are one thing," Hagel told reporters traveling with him. "Evidence is another."
Great Britain and France have also raised similar concerns about chemical-weapon use in Syria. Their use by the President Bashar Assad regime in the civil war that has killed tens of thousands would appear to cross a "red line" that the Obama administration said would trigger a response. That might include providing weapons and training to rebels or even sending in American troops to secure the weapons.
Israeli officials did not tell Hagel about their finding of chemical-weapon use when he met with officials there earlier this week, Hagel said.
"I guess it wasn't complete," Hagel said.
They did speak in more general terms about Syria's chemical weapons, Hagel said. A key concern is that terrorists might obtain them.
Hagel would not offer a timeline for completion of the U.S. assessment.
"You don't take intelligence and say, 'OK, here's the timeframe. We're going to have it in 24 hours,' " Hagel said. "Sometimes this is easy. Most times it's not easy."
Hagel didn't have time to discuss the allegations with Israeli officials because they broke as he left the country Tuesday for Saudi Arabia, said a senior defense official who was not authorized to speak about the issue on the record.
The official added that Hagel has asked U.S. officials to conduct their own analysis of Israel's "very troubling" reports about chemical weapons.
Hagel also met with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and discussed security concerns, including the Syrian civil war, as well as Egypt's reaffirmation of its peace accords with Israel and curbing extremism on the Sinai Peninsula.
Hagel flew later from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates where he will discuss the sale of 25 F-16 warplanes. The fighter jets are part of a $10 billion arms sale to Israel and Arab allies of the U.S. that will provide them with advanced weapons to counter Iran.
Any U.S. response to Syria will be based on American intelligence findings, Hagel said in his first public remarks since an Israeli official alleged Monday that the Syria government had used chemical weapons.
"Suspicions are one thing," Hagel told reporters traveling with him. "Evidence is another."
Great Britain and France have also raised similar concerns about chemical-weapon use in Syria. Their use by the President Bashar Assad regime in the civil war that has killed tens of thousands would appear to cross a "red line" that the Obama administration said would trigger a response. That might include providing weapons and training to rebels or even sending in American troops to secure the weapons.
Israeli officials did not tell Hagel about their finding of chemical-weapon use when he met with officials there earlier this week, Hagel said.
"I guess it wasn't complete," Hagel said.
They did speak in more general terms about Syria's chemical weapons, Hagel said. A key concern is that terrorists might obtain them.
Hagel would not offer a timeline for completion of the U.S. assessment.
"You don't take intelligence and say, 'OK, here's the timeframe. We're going to have it in 24 hours,' " Hagel said. "Sometimes this is easy. Most times it's not easy."
Hagel didn't have time to discuss the allegations with Israeli officials because they broke as he left the country Tuesday for Saudi Arabia, said a senior defense official who was not authorized to speak about the issue on the record.
The official added that Hagel has asked U.S. officials to conduct their own analysis of Israel's "very troubling" reports about chemical weapons.
Hagel also met with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and discussed security concerns, including the Syrian civil war, as well as Egypt's reaffirmation of its peace accords with Israel and curbing extremism on the Sinai Peninsula.
Hagel flew later from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates where he will discuss the sale of 25 F-16 warplanes. The fighter jets are part of a $10 billion arms sale to Israel and Arab allies of the U.S. that will provide them with advanced weapons to counter Iran.
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