France once again issues warning to the Syrian government over the use of chemical weapons

France today threatened Syria that any attempt to deploy or use the chemical weapons will be met with a disproportionate response from the NATO member nations.

Laurent Fabius, the French minister of Foreign Affairs today said that France will not allow Syria to use weapons of mass destruction against the Syrian rebels and civilians. He added that any French response to such an attempt by the Syrian Armed Forces will be “massive” and “blistering”. Recently there were media reports that the Syrian Army is considering the use of chemical weapons against the rebels.

Fabius further said that he has taken up this issue with his counterparts in the US and the UK. Recently Barack Obama, the American President had warned Syria that any attempt to move or deploy the chemical weapons will constitute for a “red line” with the NATO nations. Senior British officials had also reiterated the stand by Obama.

The French President Francois Hollande had claimed last week that the uprising in Syria is affecting security situation in the entire Middle-Eastern region, including that of Lebanon. Lebanon is considered to be the most important ally of France in the region. It is also the only Francophone country in the entire Middle-East.

During an interview with the French private radio channel Europe n° 1, Fabius refused to reveal the French plans in case Syria deploys the chemical weapons. He avoided the question, by just said that the plans were “secret”. The Syrian authorities had confirmed on last month that they possess both the chemical and biological weapons. However, the Syrian military officials have denied that they are having any immediate plans to deploy these weapons.

While asked about the position of Russia and China, Fabius claimed that both the nations opposed use of chemical weapons by the pro-Assad forces. Although they are controlling most of the major cities and towns, the Syrian government forces have lost control of large tracts of rural areas. Defence analysts have hinted at the possibility of the usage of chemical weapons, to retake the lost territories.