Only concerted diplomatic pressure from the US, Russia, China and other countries has stopped the regime from loading the bombs on to its aircraft.

Syria has armed dozens of bombs with sarin gas and other chemical weapons that could be used to target opposition less than two hours after President Bashar al-Assad issues orders, US officials have claimed.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad delivers a rare televised speech to the nation Photo: BBC

Satellite imagery gathered by Israel and other states in late November showed regime soldiers preparing the 500lb bombs in late November.

The intelligence triggered a public warning from Leon Panetta, the US Defence Secretary, that the regime would cross a “red line” triggering military intervention if it used the bombs.

Diplomats told The New York Times that American, European, Arab diplomats hurriedly coordinated warnings to Damascus to stop preparing the devices.

But America and its allies remain concerned that the bombs could be dropped by the regime at short notice.

via Syria ‘has chemical weapons that could be used within two hours’ – Telegraph.

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