No-fly zone over Syria unlikely without UN approval: France

France says imposing a no-fly zone over Syria is unlikely for now, noting that a decision from the United Nations Security Council is required for the measure.

“The problem with this type of measure is that it can only be put in place with approval from the international community. A decision from the United Nations Security Council is needed and not just any decision,” French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Philippe Lalliot said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier in the day, senior Western diplomats said Washington is mulling a no-fly zone close to Syria’s southern border with Jordan.

“Washington is considering a no-fly zone to help Assad’s opponents … possibly near the Jordanian border,” a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

On June 13, US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes claimed in a White House statement that the Syrian government “has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent, sarin, on a small scale” against the foreign-backed Takfiri militants “multiple times in the last year.”

Hawkish US Senator John McCain, who is a staunch supporter of arming the militants in Syria, said Washington should even think of plans other than sending weapons to the militants “to change the equation on the battleground.”

The turmoil in Syria erupted in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed so far.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on June 13 that at least 93,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the foreign-sponsored militancy against the Syrian government.

In May, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country.