The United States has been reaching out to world leaders amidst reports of use of chemical weapons by Syria's Assad regime, with the Pentagon moving military assets, in particular a naval ship, near the country.        

Personally leading the intensification of diplomatic activities, US Secretary of State John Kerry in the last 24 hours not only spoke to the leader of the Syrian Opposition Council, the UN Secretary General, and those from the European Union and the Arab League, but also spoke to his counterparts in Britain, France, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, Germany, UAE, Italy, and Egypt.        

"During all of these calls, the Secretary reiterated the United States' commitment to continue working urgently to gather the facts on the ground and also expressed our concern and outrage over the disturbing reports, photos, and videos we have seen, which shock the conscience and that anyone would see as beyond the pale," a State Department official said on the condition of anonymity.