Mattis: Diplomatic measures necessary against Assad regime
The US secretary of defense acknowledges that Syrian Army has been moving its planes in recent days; Mattis further stresses that Syria's continuing to hold chemical weapons is 'a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.'
During a press conference alongside Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Mattis was asked whether the Syrian Army had moved warplanes to a Russian base in Latakia, likely as a way to protect themselves against another US attack.
"They have dispersed their aircraft, no doubt. They have dispersed their aircraft in recent days," Mattis said.
Mattis also reiterated that the United States believed Syria had retained some chemical weapons.
"The bottom line is, I can say authoritatively they have retained some (chemical weapons). It's a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and it's going to have to be taken up diplomatically," Mattis said.
The United States launched dozens of missiles earlier this month against a Syrian air base in response to a chemical attack that killed 90 people, including 30 children. It says the Syrian government launched the attack from the Shayrat air base. The Pentagon has said that the strike had damaged or destroyed about 20 percent of the Syrian military's operational aircraft.
While human rights organizations such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical weapons have said that sarin or a similar banned toxin was used in the April 4 strike in Syria's Idlib province, the Syrian government has denied it has any chemical weapons or that it was responsible for the attack.
"We think it was fabricated. To us, there was no chemical attack and no chemical depot. It was a fabricated play to justify the attack on the Shayrat air base, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Sputnik and RIA on Thursday.
The IDF said on Wednesday it believed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces still possessed several tonnes of chemical weapons.
In a 2013 agreement brokered by Russia and the United States, Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons.
In addition to Lieberman, Mattis met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. Before the start of his talk with Netanyahu, Netanyahu said he was optimistic about relations between the two countries under the new US administration.
Later on Friday, air raid sirens sounded in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights when two mortars fired from the Syrian side of the frontier struck an open area, causing no damage or injuries, Israel's military said.
In response, the IDF said it "targeted the launch sites" by attacking in Syria. “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the sovereignty of the State of Israel or the security of its residents and will see the Syrian regime responsible for what happens within its territory.”
