Assad's Use of Chemical Weapons Kills 6 in Syria; Use of Them Expected to Result in US Mil. Action

Rebel forces in Syria say that Assad regime forces used chemical weapons in an attack on Homs on December 23, 2012, killing six people and injuring dozens more with poison gas, according to the Times of Israel website.

Qatar-based satellite channel Al Jazeera reported 10 people suffered serious injuries from the chemical attack -- including blindness and paralysis -- and over 50 more suffered other injuries.

Reports in recent weeks have verified that embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad has been preparing to use chemicals as the country's 21-month-old civil war -- which has already claimed over 40,000 lives -- rages on.

After being informed by U.S. intelligence sources earlier this month that Assad was preparing chemical weapons for use against Syrian protesters, U.S. President Barack Obama asserted that if Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian protesters,  the United States would take military action against the Assad regime.