BRUSSELS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- NATO has expressed support for the U.S.-led strike against Syria, calling it essential to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Commenting on the joint attack against Syrian military facilities by the United States, Britain and France, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg Saturday said the international community should have a collective and effective response to the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria.

"I support the actions ... This will reduce the regime's ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons," he said, adding that NATO considered the use of chemical weapons as a threat to international peace and security.

"The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable," he said in a statement.

Activists and rebels in Syria claim that Syrian Government forces used chlorine gas on April 7 in their attack against Douma, a town near Damascus held by rebels.

Ahead of an impartial investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the United States, Britain and France joined the chorus, accusing the Bashar al-Assad government of using chemical weapons.

Syria denies the allegations, saying the West is simply seeking an excuse for military intervention.