The U.S. government has asked Jordan and Turkey to take action in the event that Syria uses chemical weapons. The exact nature of the action expected from the two nations, which could include the destruction or takeover of the Assad regime's chemical weapons facilities, is not yet known.

Washington made a strategic decision to ask Jordan and Turkey to take the lead in combating any Syrian use of chemical weapons rather than committing American forces.  Both Jordan and Turkey have agreed to train their forces and to use U.S.-supplied equipment, but both governments have so far refused to promise to intervene if Syrian President Bashar Assad uses chemical weapons against rebel forces in his country as long as he does not violate Jordanian or Turkish sovereignty in doing so.

Jordan and Turkey have been on high alert since December over the possible launch of Syrian missiles carrying chemical warheads.  According to a report by the U.S.-based investigative news organization the Center for Public Integrity, U.S. officials have recently discussed the possibility of removing the stockpiles from Syria and destroying them, not only with Jordan and Turkey but also with Russia and Iraq.