Pentagon dismisses reports of top US general's remarks on Syria as ‘fabrication'

T.J. Grubisha told the Anatolia news agency on Monday that the Pentagon had denied as "fabrication" reports of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey's remarks which appeared in several British media outlets, and that the Defense Department had also said a newspaper that ran the story had revised it later.

Media outlets reported last week that Gen. Dempsey claimed that establishing a buffer zone inside Syria would be a difficult task as it would necessitate the use of military force in the restive Middle Eastern country.

The reports also cited Dempsey as criticizing US President Barack Obama's recent threat to take military action against Syria should the regime move to deploy chemical weapons against the rebels trying to overthrow it. The top general claimed NATO would not be able to take such military action against Syria, the reports also said.