In the West Bank, a Palestinian dies in the hospital of wounds sustained by IDF fire in Jenin r.c. during a raid on the camp on 8/20. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night, and patrols in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, Qalqilya and 1 nearby village at night. (PCHR 9/5)
U.S. Pres. Obama decides to seek the backing of Congress for any attack on Syria, a significant development which he announces in the White House Rose Garden. Such a step delays a potentially imminent strike and has potential to prevent it altogether. Secy. of State John Kerry assures leaders of the Syrian opposition and Saudi Arabia FM Prince Saud al-Faisal that Pres. Obama remains determined to hold the Asad regime to account. Meanwhile, UN chemical weapons experts leave Syria for Lebanon and then fly back to Rotterdam. The team conducted 4 days of inspections and return to the Netherlands with samples for testing. (AP, NYT, REU, WSJ 31/8)