Syria warns US, says intervention would burn entire Middle East

Damascus: Frowning at the US, Syria on Sunday warned that any possible intervention will set the entire Middle East ablaze and attack on Syria would be "no easy trip". Syria's word of warning comes as the American naval forces continued to inch nearer to Syria and the Obama administration weighed various options including that of military intervention in Syria after the purported chemical attacks claimed 355 lives in Syrian suburb of Ghouta on Wednesday. Speaking in an interview, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said any attack on Syria would risk escalating violence across the Mideast.
 "The basic repercussion would be a ball of fire that would burn not only Syria but the whole Middle East. An attack on Syria would be no easy trip," Zoubi said. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Arakji, echoed similar warning when he said that an American military intervention in Syria will "complicate matters." "Sending warships will not solve the problems but will worsen the situation," Arakji said in comments carried by Iran's Arabic-language TV Al-Alam. He added that any such US move does not have international backing and that Iran "rejects military solutions." A top military official from Iran said that US will have to face consequences if it crossed the red line.
 "If the United States crosses this red line, there will be harsh consequences for the White House," armed forces deputy chief of staff Massoud Jazayeri was quoted as saying. Interestingly, US President Barack Obama had used the term "red lines" for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, warning that it would evoke tough action. Iranian military official also accused the US and Israel of planning the war in Syria. "The terrorist war underway in Syria was planned by the United States and reactionary countries in the region against the resistance front (against Israel)," Fars quoted Jazayeri as saying. "Those who add fire to the oil will not escape the vengeance of the people," added Jazayeri. Syrian rebels claim that the attack was carried out by the government's forces but the regime has hit back by counter-alleging that the rebels were behind the attack. Syrian state TV also showed images of plastic jugs, gas masks, vials of an unspecified medication, explosives and other items that it said were seized from rebel hideouts Saturday.
 An army statement issued late Saturday said the discovery of the weapons "is clear evidence that these gangs are using chemical weapons against our people and soldiers with help from foreign sides." Top Syrian rebel commander Salim Idris refuted government's allegations saying that opposition forces did not use chemical weapons on Saturday and that "the regime is lying." With Agency Inputs