Risch Statement on Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons Against Civilians

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today as U.S. intelligence confirmed that the Syrian government again used chemical weapons against its own people, in violation of international law:

“Today, Secretary Pompeo confirmed what we have long suspected, which is that the Assad regime once again used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in Latakia province in May. This horrific attack is just one of the many atrocities perpetrated by the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers over the course of Syria’s 8-year long civil war. The regime and its backers must be held to account for their crimes, some of which rise to the level of war crimes. Congress must pass the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act to provide accountability for these insidious acts.”

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