US official: Intel shows strong indications no chemical weapons in Syria attack

WASHINGTON – A senior U.S. official is saying that the U.S. now has strong indications that chemical weapons were not used in the attack in Syria Tuesday.

Officials won’t entirely rule out the possibility. But this official says additional intelligence-gathering has led the U.S. to believe more strongly that it was not a weaponized chemical attack.

The U.S. and allies have been looking into allegations by the Syrian regime that rebels carried out a chemical weapons attack in northern Aleppo province. Rebels blame regime forces.

There are fears President Bashar Assad would use chemical weapons against his people in the ongoing civil war and also concerns that al-Qaida linked rebels might obtain and use them.

The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.