Syria no-fly zone tipped as next likely step by US

THE United States is considering imposing a no-fly zone in Syria, in what would be its first direct military intervention of the two-year-old civil war, Western diplomats said yesterday, after the White House said Syria had crossed a “red line” by using nerve gas.

After months of deliberation, President Barack Obama’s administration said late on Thursday it would arm rebels, having obtained proof the Syrian government used chemical weapons against fighters trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Two senior Western diplomats said Washington was mulling a no-fly zone close to Syria’s southern border with Jordan. Imposing a no-fly zone would require the US to destroy Syria’s air defences, entering the war.

The area near the Jordanian border contains some of the most densely populated parts of Syria.The nation’s civil war grew out of protests that swept across the Arab world in 2011.

Western nations have for two years demanded Assad leave power, but have not acted for fear of engaging with a strong country that straddles sectarian divides at the heart of the Middle East, backed by Iran and Russia.

Just months ago, the West believed Assad’s days were numbered. But battlefield momentum has turned in his favour, making his swift removal appear remote without outside intervention.

Thousands of fighters from Lebanon’s pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia joined the war on Assad’s behalf recently and last week helped to recapture Qusair.

Assad’s government says its troops are preparing for an assault on Aleppo and activists reported an intensified assault on the city overnight, sparking the most violent clashes in months.

US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said Washington now believed 100 to 150 people had been killed by poison gas.

Syria’s foreign ministry called the US decision to arm the rebels a “flagrant double standard”.

Syria’s state news agency said the US “affirmed once again its involvement in supporting the armed terrorist groups in Syria”.

The move puts the US on a diplomatic collision course with Moscow and Kremlin-allied Russian lawmaker said the chemical weapons data was fabricated by Washington to justify joining the war.

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels and political opposition leaders immediately demanded weaponry.