J Street is outraged by, and condemns in the strongest terms, the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons against the people of Syria.

As Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday: “The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity. By any standard, it is inexcusable. And despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured, it is undeniable.”

Our hearts and prayers go out to all the innocent victims of Syria’s brutal civil war, which has already claimed the lives of over 100,000 people. We recognize that the use of chemical weapons is a dangerous escalation and an awful precedent that takes us to a new low. The United States and the international community must hold President Assad and all responsible for this heinous crime fully accountable.

As President Obama and world leaders contemplate the appropriate course of action, we are cognizant that there are no easy or clear-cut solutions. Any action taken should aim to minimize the loss of civilian life, deter the further use of chemical weapons and avoid regional spillover.