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| Britain Preparing Contingency Plan for Intervention in Syria, Officials Say | Britain Preparing Contingency Plan for Intervention in Syria, Officials Say |
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| LONDON — As the United States hardens its language in condemnation of the Syrian government over its suspected use of chemical weapons, the British military was drawing up plans for action in response to last week’s attack on the outskirts of Damascus, a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday. | LONDON — As the United States hardens its language in condemnation of the Syrian government over its suspected use of chemical weapons, the British military was drawing up plans for action in response to last week’s attack on the outskirts of Damascus, a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday. |
| British fighter aircraft were reported to have been sent to Cyprus, a likely launching pad for any non-missile strike. | British fighter aircraft were reported to have been sent to Cyprus, a likely launching pad for any non-missile strike. |
| “We are continuing to discuss with our international partners what the right response should be, but, as part of this, we are making contingency plans for the armed forces,” Mr. Cameron’s spokesman said. The intention of any strike, British officials have said, is to deter further use of chemical weapons. | “We are continuing to discuss with our international partners what the right response should be, but, as part of this, we are making contingency plans for the armed forces,” Mr. Cameron’s spokesman said. The intention of any strike, British officials have said, is to deter further use of chemical weapons. |
| British officials, who were not identified by name under departmental rules, told reporters that Mr. Cameron would continue discussions with world leaders on what was termed a “proportionate response” to deter attacks in the future using chemical weapons. | British officials, who were not identified by name under departmental rules, told reporters that Mr. Cameron would continue discussions with world leaders on what was termed a “proportionate response” to deter attacks in the future using chemical weapons. |
| Mr. Cameron planned to cut short a vacation on Tuesday to return to London to lead a meeting of Britain’s national security committee. | Mr. Cameron planned to cut short a vacation on Tuesday to return to London to lead a meeting of Britain’s national security committee. |
| On the ground in Syria, United Nations inspectors had initially been expected to head back to rebel-held areas for a second day to collect samples of materials used in last Wednesday’s attack. On Monday the inspectors managed to reach the site of the attack after coming under fire from unidentified snipers. | On the ground in Syria, United Nations inspectors had initially been expected to head back to rebel-held areas for a second day to collect samples of materials used in last Wednesday’s attack. On Monday the inspectors managed to reach the site of the attack after coming under fire from unidentified snipers. |
| Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said on Tuesday, however, that the inspectors’ trip had been delayed by one day because of disputes among the rebel groups seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. The minister said the insurgents could not agree on issues related to guaranteeing the inspectors’ safety. He gave no further details. | Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said on Tuesday, however, that the inspectors’ trip had been delayed by one day because of disputes among the rebel groups seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. The minister said the insurgents could not agree on issues related to guaranteeing the inspectors’ safety. He gave no further details. |
| The Press Association of Britain quoted officials as indicating that a decision on the nature of any military response could be taken before the United Nations inspectors report on their findings. British lawmakers want the government to consult Parliament before reaching a decision and, the officials said, a decision on whether to call legislators back early from their summer recess will also be made on Tuesday. | The Press Association of Britain quoted officials as indicating that a decision on the nature of any military response could be taken before the United Nations inspectors report on their findings. British lawmakers want the government to consult Parliament before reaching a decision and, the officials said, a decision on whether to call legislators back early from their summer recess will also be made on Tuesday. |
| Britain seems anxious to maintain the impetus of efforts to devise a tough response to the attack, which it, like Washington and Paris, has attributed to Mr. Assad’s forces. | Britain seems anxious to maintain the impetus of efforts to devise a tough response to the attack, which it, like Washington and Paris, has attributed to Mr. Assad’s forces. |
| In Washington, using some of the most aggressive language used yet by the Obama administration, Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday accused the Syrian government of the “indiscriminate slaughter of civilians” and of cynical efforts to cover up its responsibility for a “cowardly crime.” | In Washington, using some of the most aggressive language used yet by the Obama administration, Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday accused the Syrian government of the “indiscriminate slaughter of civilians” and of cynical efforts to cover up its responsibility for a “cowardly crime.” |
| Syria has blamed rebel forces for the use of chemical weapons, denying that government troops were responsible. | Syria has blamed rebel forces for the use of chemical weapons, denying that government troops were responsible. |
| The issue has deepened the divide between the United States and Russia, Syria’s main international ally and sponsor. | The issue has deepened the divide between the United States and Russia, Syria’s main international ally and sponsor. |
| According to Agence France-Presse, Moscow warned on Tuesday that a military intervention in Syria could have “catastrophic consequences” for the region and called on the international community to show “prudence” over the crisis. | According to Agence France-Presse, Moscow warned on Tuesday that a military intervention in Syria could have “catastrophic consequences” for the region and called on the international community to show “prudence” over the crisis. |
| “Attempts to bypass the Security Council, once again to create artificial groundless excuses for a military intervention in the region, are fraught with new suffering in Syria and catastrophic consequences for other countries of the Middle East and North Africa,” the foreign ministry in Moscow said. |