US warns Syria over new chemical strikes

BRITAIN, the United States and France have agreed that any further use of chemical weapons by Syria will prompt a “much stronger response” compared with previous air strikes, the national security adviser to Donald Trump, the US president, said yesterday. In recent days American officials have said they believe government forces are preparing to deploy chemical weapons ahead of an assault on the rebel-held enclave of Idlib.

“If there’s a third use of chemical weapons, the response will be much stronger,” said John Bolton in his first speech since joining the White House.

“We’ve been in consultation with the British and the French, who joined us in the second strike, and they agree.” Mr Trump has twice ordered missile strikes on a narrow range of targets associated with the Syrian chemical weapons programmes.

Mr Bolton delivered his comments after a speech condemning the International Criminal Court for being ineffective in deterring war crimes.

He also announced the closure of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s office in Washington.