Assad: Threat of U.S. military strike is not why Syria is handing over weapons

Photo: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Russia’s state-run news channel Rossiya-24 that he is ceding his weapons to international control due to Russia’s offer and not the threat of a U.S. military strike.
“Syria is handing over its chemical weapons under international supervision because of Russia,” Assad said in the interview. “The U.S. threats did not influence the decision.”