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From Debka File
 
Obama: Everyone believes Assad regime committed chemical attack
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 5:52 PM (GMT+02:00)

Chemical warfare is banned by international conventions against armies, least of all against children, US President Barack Obama said at the closing of the G20 summit in Russia Friday. Bashar must be punished; otherwise any dictator will feel free to violate this ban. He said that in his private conversation with President Vladimir Putin, he was not able to convince him on this point, but they did agree to work together toward a political solution of the Syrian crisis. Obama said reports from US military sources that he had decided to expand the operation against Syria and its inventory of targets were inaccurate. Asked if he would go forward if Congress voted against military intervention in Syria, the president recalled that US intervention in World War II and Kosovo was undertaken by presidents of the day depsite its unpopularity with the American people. Obama will address the nation again next Tuesday.

US evacuates personnel from Beirut and SE Turkey
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 4:17 PM (GMT+02:00)

The United States has withdrawn all non-emergency embassy workers and their families from Beirut and warned Americans against travel to Lebanon amid looming military strikes on Syria, the State Department said Friday. “Given the current situation in Syria and the region, as well as potential threats to U.S. Government facilities and personnel, we are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution to protect our employees and their families, and local employees and visitors to our facilities,” the State Deparment said Friday.  “The Consulate General in Adana has been authorized to draw down its non-emergency staff and family members because of threats against U.S. government facilities and personnel,” the department said, advising US citizens to defer non-essential travel to southeastern Turkey.

 
Obama opts to expand Syria operation with allied air strikes
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 12:41 PM (GMT+02:00)

US military sources report that President Barack Obama has decided to expand the US operation against Syria’s chemical weapons. Instead of confining the action to Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from warships, he is now turning to the introduction of air strikes by US, French, Turkish and Saudi bombers. DEBKAfile: This indicates that the US targeting inventory will include Syrian chemical weapons stockpiles and air bases, a development that will almost certainly bring about Syrian and Hizballah reprisals against US interests in the region as well as Israel.

 
A Chinese landing craft with 1,000 marines for Syria – reports
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 12:31 PM (GMT+02:00)

Western naval sources reported Friday that a Chinese landing craft, the Jinggangshan, with a 1,000-strong marine battalion had reached the Red Sea en route for the Mediterranean off Syria.  According to DEBKAfile, Beijing has already deployed a number of warships opposite Syria in secret. If the latest report is confirmed, this will be the largest Chinese deployment in the Middle East in its naval history.

 
Another Russian warship heads for Syria
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 12:29 PM (GMT+02:00)

Russian Navy spokesmen said Friday that the fleet building up in the Mediterranean can answer any development after the Smetlivy guided missile destroyer set sail for the Mediterranean. DEBKAfile: Since Wednesday, Moscow has reported six warships have been sent out to reinforce the Russian fleet on hand opposite Syria.

 
Iraq fears Iranian payback for US attack on Syria
DEBKAfile September 6, 2013, 9:38 PM (GMT+02:00)

According to intelligence reaching Baghdad, Iran has organized Iraqi Shiite terrorists groups ready to strike US and other foreign targets inside Iraq in response to a US strike against Syria. This was reported by Iraqi security sources Friday.