Russia Uses Veto to Protect Syrian Government for the Eighth Time
Russia used its veto privilege to block a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution by the U.S., France and the U.K. that condemns last week’s suspected gas attack and tells the Syrian government to give investigators access to relevant information, Reuters reports.
The attack took place in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, in the northwestern province of Idlib, on April 4 and killed more than 80 people.
Moscow is a key ally of the Syrian government, and has intervened militarily on its behalf since September 2015.
“If the regime is innocent, as Russia claims, the information requested in this resolution would have vindicated them,” said Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
The Syrian government has denied using toxic gas in Khan Sheikhoun, and the Russian ambassador to the U.N., Vladimir Safronkov, criticized the draft resolution for laying the blame of the attack on the government before any formal investigation has been carried out.
“I’m amazed that this was the conclusion. No one has yet visited the site of the crime. How do you know that?” Safronkov said.
U.S. and Russian relations are deteriorating following the suspected attack and the U.S. airstrikes on a Syrian government base last Thursday. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian president Vladimir Putin each admit there is little trust between the two countries.
Sarin or Similar Substance Used in Syria, Says U.K.
Samples taken from Khan Sheikhoun, the site of the suspected toxic gas attack that left more than 80 people dead, and analyzed by British scientists, have tested positive for sarin or a sarin-like substance, according to Britain’s ambassador to the U.N., Matthew Rycroft, Reuters reports.
“The United Kingdom therefore shares the U.S. assessment that it is highly likely that the regime was responsible for a sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April,” Rycroft said.
Idlib is controlled by an array of rebel forces, including the former al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, and is regularly the target of government, Russian and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes.
Syrian Government Says U.S. Coalition Airstrikes Hit ISIS Poison Gas Supplies
According to a military report on Syrian state TV, a U.S.-led coalition airstrike on Wednesday hit poison gas supplies belonging to the so-called Islamic State, killing “hundreds including many civilians,” Reuters reports.
The statement said the airstrike, which took place in Deir Ezzor province in northeastern Syria, proves that ISIS and al-Qaida possess chemical weapons.
Deir Ezzor’s provincial capital is controlled by the government and is under siege by ISIS.
The Syrian government has denied responsibility for the alleged toxic gas attack in rebel-held Idlib province last week, following which the U.S. retaliated by targeting a government airbase. Moscow has claimed the suspected attack was the work of a rebel chemical weapons depot.
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