There is a “100 percent” probability that the Syrian government will use chemical weapons again if the United States does not launch a military strike, Secretary of State John Kerry told members of the House Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel echoed Kerry’s remark, saying “very high” when asked by Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly about the likelihood of another Syrian chemical attack absent of U. S. action.

The comments came as Pres. Obama‘s top national security advisers presented their case on last Wednesday to members of the House Foreign Relations Committee for a U. S. strike on Syria after the U. S. government accused President Bashar Assad’s forces of killing more than 1,000 people with chemical weapons on Aug. 21.

While Kerry, Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, answered questions from House lawmakers, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation authorizing President Barack Obama to strike Syria. The panel voted 10-7 to send the measure to the full Senate, with one senator voting present. The legislation, which could still face attempted amendments, is expected to face a final Senate vote next week.

House members took turns questioning Kerry about the cost of an attack, the role of international partners in implementing a strike and whether there was proof that Assad was truly behind the chemical attack on Syrian citizens.

Anti-Syria Protesters Picket Outside White House

WASHINGTON  — Dozens of people opposed to President Barack Obama’s call for a U. S. military strike against Syria are picketing outside the White House.

Chanting “They say more war; we say no war,” speakers say Saturday’s picket line marks a line Congress should not cross as it prepares to vote on the issue.

Many lawmakers in both parties oppose Pres. Obama’s request for Congress to authorize using military force against Syria for a deadly chemical gas attack the Obama administration blames on President Bashar Assad.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared the authorization measure earlier this week. The first votes by the full Senate could come Wednesday.

Pres. Obama left the White House during the protest, traveling by car to Andrews Air Force Base to play golf with three aides.