But alert puzzles many in gov’t

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is warning that Syria will pay “a heavy price” if it follows through on what the Pentagon says are preparations for another chemical weapons attack.

The U.S. has detected “activity” in a Shayrat airfield that indicated “preparations for chemical weapons use,” said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

Syria used the same base to launch an April attack the U.S. said caused dozens of deaths. America retaliated with an airstrike on the field.

The Pentagon statement followed an unexpected White House warning on Monday night that said Syria should get ready to pay for its apparent preparations.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the intelligence seemed to indicate another attack that “would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children.”

The statement caught many administration officials off guard, with media reports saying the State Department was not involved in the announcement. The department usually works with the Pentagon and White House on such declarations, and it was unclear if other officials had received the intelligence seen by the White House. Deputy spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders denied any confusion and said “all relevant agencies” were involved.

She would not say Tuesday if the U.S. is anticipating a bigger conflict with Syria, stating only that the American statements had been “extremely clear.”

The U.S. government has alleged for years that Bashar Assad is launching deadly chemical attacks on his own citizens as a civil war rages in Syria between the government, ISIS and anti-Assad rebels. Assad (photo) has denied responsibility for all attacks.

Tensions from Syria have spread worldwide as the U.S. backs Arab and Kurdish rebel forces, while Russia and Iran lend military might to Assad’s government.