Updated

The U.N. Security Council has approved a United States-drafted resolution that condemns the use of toxic chemicals such as chlorine in Syria without assigning blame, while threatening militarily enforced action in the case of further violations.

All members of the 15-seat council approved the resolution except for Venezuela, which abstained.

The resolution follows last month's condemnation by the world's chemical weapons watchdog of the use of chlorine in Syria as a breach of international law.

Some council members such as Britain and France have blamed Syria's government for the attacks, pointing out that Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reports have linked chlorine attacks to helicopters and that only Syria's government has helicopters.

Russia on Friday expressed skepticism about blaming the Syrian government, which is its ally.