France Ready to 'Punish' Syria for Chemical Weapon Attack

President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday France is prepared to “punish” those responsible for gassing innocent civilians in Damascus. 

Speaking to an annual meeting in Paris of dozens of French ambassadors posted around the world.  “France is ready to punish those who took the decision to gas the innocent. “

Hollande stated it seemed certain that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was behind the chemical attack. 

Last Thursday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius spoke to BFM-TV saying the country was prepared to retaliate with force if the use of chemical weapons were confirmed.  “If it is proven, France’s position is that there must be a reaction,” Fabius said. 

But he elaborated that while there would need to be a “reaction with force,” it would be “impossible” to send ground troops. On Friday Laurent said “All the information at our disposal converges to indicate that there was a chemical massacre near Damascus and that the Bashar regime is responsible,” while visiting Ramallah in the West Bank.