Assad: US will ‘pay the price’ if it attacks Syria

WASHINGTON: Syrian President Bashar Assad warned Washington on Monday to brace for retaliation if US forces attacked his war-torn country, as he denied using chemical weapons against his people.
“You’re going to pay the price if you’re not wise. There are going to be repercussions,” Assad told CBS television’s “This Morning.” “It’s an area where everything is on the brink of explosion. You have to expect everything.”
He also warned of the risks of possible chemical attacks by rebels or “terrorists” if there was outside intervention in Syria.
Assad spoke in what CBS called his first interview since President Barack Obama asked Congress for approval to use military force to punish Assad for his regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons in a deadly attack last month.
“You should expect everything... The government’s not the only player in this region. You have different parties, different factions, different ideologies. You have everything in this decision now,” Assad said.
Assad denied his forces carried out a deadly chemical weapons attack on August 21 on the outskirts of Damascus, as alleged by the United States and some of its allies.