Kerry says US evaluating Syria options, won’t weigh in on issue of giving arms to rebels

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is evaluating new options to halt Syria’s civil war. But he is not saying anything at this point about giving weapons to rebels fighting President Bashar Assad’s regime.

In his first news conference as secretary, Kerry says the Obama administration is “deeply distressed” by Syria’s violence and is weighing diplomatic and other steps to stem the killing.

Kerry would not specifically address a question about the administration’s previous debates over providing military aid.

Top Pentagon leaders on Thursday said for the first time that they backed the idea but that President Barack Obama opposed such action.

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Bradley Klapper

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