GENEVA: The joint United Nations-Arab League Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said on Wednesday that any international military action against Damacus cannot go ahead without approval by the UN Security Council, while US troops have reportedly been mobilized along the Jordan-Syria border as the West appears to be moving toward military action against Syria.
“I think international law is clear on this. International law says that military action must be taken after a decision by the Security Council,” Brahimi told reporters in Geneva.
His comments came as the United States and its allies were building their case for military action against the Syrian regime over alleged chemical weapons attacks.
Brahimi also said it was clear that some kind of substance had been used in the August 21 assault by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, killing hundreds of people.
On the other hand, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Mikdad said on Wednesday that UN inspectors have been provided evidence which shows that Syria did not use chemical weapons.
“Syrian government forces have never used chemical weapons – such claims are just a pretext. We have proof of this, which we passed to the inspectors of the UN commission,” Al-Mikdad said. He also described allegations that Syria has used such weapons as “false.”
Earlier in the day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pleaded for a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict.
Speaking in the Great Hall of Justice at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Ban said the UN team investigating the alleged chemical attack in Syria must be given time to establish facts.
According to reports, US troops backed by tanks and fighter jets have been mobilized along the Jordan-Syria border, as the West appears to be moving toward military action against Syria.
Meanwhile, Turkey has put its armed forces on alert ahead of a possible Western missile strike against Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
“We are now at a more alert position… Turkey will take whatever measures necessary within the framework of its own strategic interests,” Davutoglu said, adding that “all options” remained open on the possible international action.
