The White House warned President Bashar al-Assad that he would "pay a heavy price" if there were to be another chemical attack. “As we have previously stated, the United States is in Syria to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,” White House statement. “If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price.” It remains unclear why the White House released the highly unusual statement and whether intelligence suspect another attack is coming soon.