If
a chemical weapons “attack” comes to pass in the place it has
been predicted, it would be the first such provocation blamed on
Assad to take place in territory occupied by a foreign power, likely
triggering an intensified military response from the U.S.
by
Whitney Webb
Part
3 - A step up in false-flag provocation?
If a
chemical weapons attack is again being planned, as reports suggest,
this provocation would likely be more significant than previous such
attacks and would likely result in a more drastic response from
Western powers.
This is
because Jafra oil field, where the staged attack is allegedly being
planned/staged, lies within the portion of the Deir Ez Zor
governorate that is under the control of the United States and its
armed proxy group, the SDF. Past chemical weapons attacks that have
been blamed on the Syrian government, have all occurred in areas held
by Syrian rebel groups, such as Idlib province and Eastern Ghouta.
If such
an attack comes to pass, it would be the first such provocation
blamed on Assad to take place in territory occupied by a foreign
power.
This is
significant, as it would open the door to a greater show of American
military force as retaliation. While past U.S. interventions that
have followed alleged chemical weapons attacks have been justified
out of concern for Syrian civilians, a subsequent intervention would
instead be justified as having endangered U.S. military assets and
allies, warranting a larger response. Indeed, U.S. special forces
have been shown to be embedded with SDF forces in some areas.
Furthermore,
past Syrian government attacks using conventional weapons that have
targeted the SDF along the Euphrates have drawn a sharp response from
the U.S., namely airstrikes. A chemical weapons attack that is said
to have targeted the SDF would surely draw a more significant U.S.
military response, regardless of whether or not U.S. troops or
military assets are actually threatened.
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