PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron says France has proof that the Syrian government launched chlorine gas attacks.
Macron said Thursday that France would not tolerate “regimes that think everything is permitted.” Speaking on TF1 television, Macron said “we have proof that chemical weapons were used, at least chlorine” in recent days by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.
He did not say whether France is planning military action against Assad’s government. Macron said he has been talking regularly this week with U.S. President Donald Trump about the most effective response.
With increasing concerns about a U.S.-Russia proxy war in Syria, Macron insisted that “France will not allow an escalation or something that could damage the stability” of the region. On Tuesday, Macron said any French action would target Syria’s chemical weapons abilities.
Syrian opposition activists and medics say a suspected gas attack last week in Douma killed more than 40 people. The Syrian government has denied the allegations.
Please Monsieur Macron, wear a hazmat suit when dealing with trump to protect yourself.
THIS JUST IN:
Trump White House Responds to French Claims
In other news, at least a dozen diners at an exclusive Parisian restaurant, were exposed to diffuse cloud of Dijon Mustard gas, the source of which is as yet undetermined but thought to be close to a table with several large portions of gallete au chou.
This would explain a lot. It means that Syria likely did get rid of its chemical weapons stocks. Chlorine is also in some ways the chemical-weapons analog to assault-weapon rounds – even those who are not killed will suffer longterm debilitating injuries and require extensive care. It’s a weapon you use when, among other things, you want to drain your opponents’ resources. (Which was one of the many reasons it was outlawed.)