White House spokesman have finally joined with other world governments in confirming Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government has used chemical weapons on their own citizens in an attempt to stop the civil war.

President Obama had called the use of chemical weapons a “red line” that would force American involvement in the ongoing war.

The State Department and the National Security officials did not comment on future moves but a Pentagon official told FOX News that immediate military action was unlikely to happen. The Associated Press reported that President Obama authorized sending weapons to the Syrian rebels.

Arizona Senator John McCain confirmed he had been told the President was going to “provide arms for the rebels”.

The White House press statement said that their estimates show 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons but that the casualty data is “likely incomplete.”