Kerry Says Intel Community Has ‘High Confidence’ Assad Used Chemical Weapons

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The White House has released declassified U.S. intelligence pointing to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons Aug. 21, fueling the debate on whether to strike Syrian targets. In a speech Friday afternoon, Secretary of State John Kerry said the intelligence community has “high confidence” in the information, including reports that the rockets were fired from Assad-held territory into opposition-controlled or contested areas and that members of the Syrian regime were told to to prepare for the attack, including putting on gas masks.

“Our intelligence community has carefully reviewed and re-reviewed information regarding this attack. And I will tell you it has done so more than mindful of the Iraq experience. We will not repeat that moment,” Kerry said.

[TIME]