DAMASCUS (AFP) – The U.S. defense chief said Tuesday his forces are ready to launch strikes against the Syrian regime over alleged chemical attacks, amid growing Western and Arab calls for action.
Syria vowed defiantly to defend itself against any attack with “surprise” measures, while its close ally Russia warned that any use of force would have “catastrophic consequences” in the region.
Global stock markets dived and world oil prices hit a six-month high over fears of possible military intervention, as the drumbeat of war grew louder.
Speaking in Brunei, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the military was prepared to act once President Barack Obama gave the order.
“We are prepared. We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfill and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take,” he said. “We are ready to go, like that.”
The Washington Post cited senior U.S. administration officials as saying such action would probably last no more than two days and involve missiles or long-range bombers, striking military targets not directly linked to Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal.
In Paris, French President Francois Hollande said his country was “ready to punish” those behind the alleged chemical attacks which the opposition claims killed hundreds in Damascus suburbs last week.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has vehemently denied it was responsible and has instead accused the rebels of using chemical weapons.
Hollande also said France would “increase military support” to the main Syrian opposition. “I have decided to increase our military support to the Syrian National Coalition,” he said without elaborating.
Britain, meanwhile, said its armed forces were drawing up contingency plans for action in Syria, and Prime Minister David Cameron recalled parliament from its summer break to debate the crisis.
But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Britain was not seeking to topple Assad.
“What we’re considering is a serious response… What we’re not considering is regime change, trying to topple the Assad regime,” he said.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said the suspected chemical attack was a “crime against humanity” that “cannot go unpunished.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has provided Syria’s regime with diplomatic cover by blocking Security Council action, was unimpressed by what the West has called mounting evidence of an atrocity.
He told Cameron on Monday there was no proof Damascus had used chemical weapons, the British premier’s office said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow would not get involved in any military conflict, and it has warned that intervention would have “catastrophic consequences” for the volatile Middle East.
Nevertheless, senior military officers from Western and Muslim countries met in Jordan to discuss the regional impact of the war in Syria, wrapping up a two-day meeting on Tuesday.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said “the situation calls for a firm and serious attitude to put an end to the human tragedy of the Syrian people.”
And permanent representatives of the 22-member Arab League meeting in Cairo said the Assad regime bore the “entire responsibility” for the August 21 attacks.
An official of Syria’s opposition National Coalition said it expects a Western military intervention within days and has been consulted over targets.
“It’s a question of days and not weeks,” said Ahmad Ramadan, adding that “there have been meetings between the Coalition, the [rebel] Free Syrian Army and allied countries during which possible targets have been discussed.”
They included airports, military bases and arms depots, he further explained.
Ramadan also said bases used to fire missiles and Scuds, especially the army’s Brigade 155 near Damascus, were in line for punitive strikes, after medical charity Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died of “neurotoxic symptoms” last week.
During a defiant news conference, Syria Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Damascus would defend itself against any strikes.
“We have two options: either to surrender, or to defend ourselves with the means at our disposal,” he said. “The second choice is the best: we will defend ourselves.”
Muallem said Syria had capabilities that would “surprise” the world, and warned that any military action against it would serve the interests of Israel and Al-Qaeda.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a serious retaliation if his country were attacked.
“The State of Israel is prepared for every scenario,” he said following consultations on the crisis. “We are not part of the civil war in Syria, but if we detect any attempt to hurt us, we will react, and react fiercely.”
Meanwhile, UN chemical weapons experts postponed efforts to collect more evidence from the site of the alleged attacks.
They had been due to make a second visit to the sites on Tuesday, but Muallem said the mission had been put off because rebels failed to guarantee their security. That was confirmed by the United Nations.
The UN convoy had come under sniper fire on Monday as it tried to approach a suburb where a chemical attack apparently took place, but managed to interview victims receiving treatment in two hospitals.
The increasing signs of impending military action sparked sharp swings on oil and global stock markets.
Oil prices soared, with Brent crude striking six-month highs on Middle East supply concerns.
Most European equities fell sharply as investors ignored solid data from Germany and eyed possible military intervention in Syria, sending the price of safe-haven gold soaring.
While London’s FTSE 100 index slid 0.79 percent to 6.440.97 points, other markets were down over two percent. New York’s Dow Jones Industrial Average opened 0.72 percent lower.
