The results of a United Nations report on the alleged chemical attack in Syria last month are set for release today, two days after the United States and Russia announced a diplomatic breakthrough that averts, for now, the potential for U.S. strikes. On Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov said they had reached a deal to destroy or remove Syria’s chemical weapons by the middle of next year. The deal calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to provide a complete list of its chemical weapons resources within a week. An inspection of all chemical weapons sites and destruction of equipment for making the weapons would then be completed by November. During a visit to Israel on Sunday, Kerry reiterated the threat of U.S. strikes if the deal fails.

John Kerry: “Now, this will only be as effective as its implementation will be. And President Obama has made it clear that to accomplish that, the threat of force remains. The threat of force is real, and the Assad regime and all those taking part need to understand that President Obama and the United States are committed to achieve this goal.”