Kerry: threat of US force against Syria 'remains real'

The threat of US military action against Syria remains "real", Washington's top diplomat said today a day after striking a deal with Russia to destroy Damascus's chemical weapons stockpile.

The threat of US military action against Syria remains "real", Washington's top diplomat said on Sunday a day after striking a deal with Russia to destroy Damascus's chemical weapons stockpile.

"The threat of force remains, the threat is real," US Secretary of State John Kerry said at a news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We cannot have hollow words in the conduct of international affairs."