Syria. The 8 good reasons for JY Le Drian to intervene
(BRUXELLES2) Speaking on Wednesday, before the French deputies, the Minister of Defence, JY Le Drian, reiterated not only his convictions. But the certainties they had that the attack of August 21 in the suburbs of Damascus was indeed chemical and the responsibility of Bashar El Assad's regime.
This attack " is chemical. It matters little in this respect the nature of the chemical agent used (...). Whether sarin, mustard gas, VX or other products, including civilian incapacitants, but deployed in high doses, or even cocktails - which is the most likely hypothesis - all declassified elements , whether by our services or by the services of our partners, amply demonstrate the chemical nature of the attack. »
This attack is "the responsibility of Bashar EL-ASSAD's regime". This for “eight reasons” he justified.
Inline Weapons available. “Bashar EL-ASSAD's regime has more than a thousand tons of chemical agents in stock and it has deployed the necessary vectors to use them and it has used them. » in particular during « the events of the month of April, Saraqeb and Jobar. (...) The samples (showed) that it was sarin gas.
Inline Preparations. “The elements identified show that specific preparations were made by the regime in the days preceding August 21. When I say specific preparations, I mean preparations dedicated to a chemical intervention.
Inline The sequence of events. “The reconstruction of the military sequence of the August 21 attack shows that the shots were fired, many shots were fired from the areas controlled by the regime towards the neighborhoods of eastern Ghouta, neighborhoods in the hands of the opposition.
Inline The scenario of the military operation "The operational sequence and the complexity of the attack which is not talked about enough is a perfectly coordinated military sequence in accordance with the tactics of the Syrian general staff, that is to say that before the chemical attack, it there was air preparation and that there was artillery preparation (see below). During these military actions, there was at the same time the chemical attack from 3 a.m. and then on the same sites a ground offensive from 06 a.m. and then there were again on the same sites heavy aerial and artillery bombardment. So there is technical coherence there, a large-scale and well-coordinated military exercise.
Inline The destruction of evidence. “The regime then did everything to destroy the evidence of its involvement in this operation either by bombarding the sites already affected, or by setting fires to eliminate the traces and evaporate the gases.
Inline The size of the attack. “The scale of the chemical attack, the multiplicity of target sites is such that only the regime could engage by its means an intervention of such a dimension.
Inline No stock available to the opposition. “We have never had, neither us nor our partners, neither our services nor the services of our partners, the slightest clue, the slightest proof of possession and even less of the use of chemical agents by the Syrian opposition, a a fortiori in such quantities.
Inline Tactical interest. "The attack that was carried out makes full sense, from a strictly strategic point of view for the regime in Damascus, since it was subject to an imminent offensive by the opposition in sensitive neighborhoods, in particular in Ghouta neighborhoods west and east Ghouta where the two airports in the Damascus region are located.
An unusual method
This intervention comes two days after the government decided to make available to the public (on the site of the Ministry of Defense and the Elysée), a declassified "intelligence summary" on the Syrian chemical program. An unusual method to say the least. Usually, intelligence information is carefully kept secret. Or at least discreet. They are made to "leak" if necessary, line by line, to a few journalists or politicians who thus "launder" the information, taking it from the famous "authorized sources". Putting it on line on all the official sites (Defence, Elysée, Quai d'Orsay), in the form of a "national summary of declassified intelligence", gives official communication a credibility, a quality of expertise given to it by the label "intelligence".
An attack embedded in a more general offensive
The interesting element of this communication is the list of the Syrian chemical and air arsenal. But also and above all, the way in which the attack was carried out which responds to " a classic tactical plan “: preparations the previous days, artillery preparation (conventional aerial bombardments and artillery on eastern Ghouta) with chemical attacks on the localities of Zamalka, Kafr Batna and Ayn Tarma then land offensive launched in the early morning. THE " artillery rockets » used are « different from those of the best-known ammunition stock”, according to the report which refers to “ several sources ».
An intervention...
But this communication is not limited to a summary of information. She insists on the French capacity to intervene. " International security is challenged. Without reaction to the massive use of chemical agents, their proliferation and use would be encouraged ". " France's strategic autonomy enables it to plan and conduct targeted military action, limited in time. " (Corn) " France wishes to build an international coalition and will work to do so in the days to come. »
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
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