Obama says he’s skeptical of Assad regime’s claims that Syrian rebels used chemical weapons

JERUSALEM – President Barack Obama says he’s deeply skeptical of claims by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime that rebel forces have used chemical weapons.

Both the Assad regime and Syrian rebels have accused each other of using chemical weapons in an attack on Tuesday.

Obama says the U.S. is investigating whether any chemical weapons were used. He says that would be a game-changer that would cross a red line for the United States.

Obama says the U.S. policy not to intervene militarily or arm Syrian rebels is based on his desire to solve the problem as a global community.

Obama’s remarks came at a joint press conference Wednesday in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.