The US is "highly sceptical" of the claim by a UN investigator that the Syrian rebels had used chemical weapons, and stressed that any use of the agents likely came from the regime, DPA reported.
"We are highly skeptical of suggestions that the opposition could have or did use chemical weapons," spokesman Jay Carney said Monday. "We find it highly likely that any chemical weapon use that has taken place in Syria was done by the Assad regime."
Carney also declined to comment on whether Israel had taken military action against Syria over the weekend, but noted the country had a right to defend itself against weapons possibly falling into the wrong hands.
"Israel certainly has the right to be concerned about the transfer of sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah, and that has been a concern of Israel's for a long time," he said. "The transfer of sophisticated weapons to terrorist organizations likes Hezbollah is certainly a concern and a threat to Israel, and they have the right to act in their own sovereign interest."