The White House said it is not contemplating “regime change” in Syria but rather responding to a violation of an international prohibition against the use of chemical weapons. Newly disclosed intelligence, obtained in part through Israeli sources, has helped convince US officials that the Assad regime used chemical weapons in a mass attack on Aug. 21; the Director of National Intelligence is preparing a report for release possibly on Thursday. Leading members of Congress, which is currently out of session, have been informed of the administration’s plans for a military intervention in Syria.
