WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is moving naval forces closer to Syria in preparation for a possible decision by President Barack Obama to order military strikes, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said.
In a statement‚ Hagel said the Defense Department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for contingencies‚ and that requires positioning of our forces to be able to carry out different options.
Hagel said the United States is coordinating with the international community to determine what exactly did happen in the reported use by the Syrian government of chemical weapons.
