Senate committee approves resolution authorizing U.S. strike on Syria More news follow @newsdailyplanet The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution Wednesday granting President Obama limited authority to launch a military strike on Syria in response to its reported use of chemical weapons against civilians. Acting hours after Obama, during a visit to Sweden, said the credibility of Congress and the international community was also at stake, the committee voted 10 to 7, with one member voting "present," to approve using force against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The resolution now goes to the full Senate. The House is separately considering a similar resolution. Graphic Lawmakers appear to be tentatively dividing into four camps over military action in Syria. Find out about the divisions by reading their own words. Click Here to View Full Graphic Story Lawmakers appear to be tentatively dividing into four camps over military action in Syria. Find out about the divisions by reading their own words. Video Secretary of State John Kerry said at a House Foreign Affairs committee hearing Wednesday that the likelihood of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to use chemical weapons again is "probably 100 percent" if the U.S. does not intervene. Secretary of State John Kerry said at a House Foreign Affairs committee hearing Wednesday that the likelihood of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to use chemical weapons again is "probably 100 percent" if the U.S. does not intervene. The White House welcomed the Senate committee's action. The panel acted after top administration officials pressed their case Wednesday for congressional approval of a U.S. military strike, even if lawmakers would support only a more limited authorization than the administration originally wanted. In a news conference in Stockholm, the first leg of a trip that will take him to Russia for a Group of 20 summit, Obama made the case for a U.S. strike on Syria "limited in time and in scope" to degrade Assad's military capabilities and deter him from resorting to chemical weapons again in his brutal war, now in its third year, against rebels seeking his ouster. "I didn't set a red line," Obama said in response to a question. "The world set a red line" when it declared chemical weapons "abhorrent" and passed a treaty forbidding them. "Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty." In a statement after Wednesday's vote, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, "We commend the Senate for moving swiftly and for working across party lines on behalf of our national security. We believe America is stronger when the President and Congress work together. The military action authorized in the resolution would uphold America's national security interests by degrading Assad's chemical weapons capability and deterring the future use of these weapons, even as we pursue a broader strategy of strengthening the opposition to hasten a political transition in Syria."

• published: 04 Sep 2013
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