Death of 70 people in chemical weapons attack

US threatens unilateral action if UN fails to act

Russia faces fury at UNSC

Assad faces war crimes accusition

US President Donald Trump warned yesterday that Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime had crossed a line with its latest alleged chemical attack and faces a US response, reports AFP
Trump described the strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun as an "affront to humanity" and warned it had changed his view of the Russian-backed Syrian leader.
Previously the White House has said its sole focus in Syria is defeating the jihadist Islamic State group, not on ending Assad's civil war against opposition fighters.
But Trump and other senior US officials said that the latest attack, which doctors say caused the agonizing deaths of at least 72 people, had changed the calculus.
And he renewed his criticism of his predecessor Barack Obama who in 2013 famously failed to take action after Assad crossed a "red line" with a previous chemical attack.
"It crossed a lot of lines for me," Trump said, at a joint White House news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah.
"When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies ... that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines," he warned.
"I will tell you, it's already happened, that my attitude towards Syria and Assad has changed very much ... You're now talking about a whole different level."
Trump did not go into detail about what a US response to the atrocity will be -- and he has previously opposed deeper US military involvement in Syria's civil war.
"When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action," she said.
Russia has also been sharply criticised by other world powers at the UN Security Council in New York over the deaths in northern Syria, adds BBC.
Moscow's suggestions that civilians were poisoned by rebel weapons on the ground have been widely rejected.
The UK's foreign secretary, a rebel commander and a weapons expert all said evidence pointed to an attack by the Syrian government, Russia's ally.
The United States, France and Britain have submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council demanding a full investigation.
International donors have pledged $6bn  in aid for Syria this year. Seventy donor nations discussed aid efforts in the war-ravaged country in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday blamed the Syrian government for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people including children, calling President Bashar al-Assad a "murderer".
"Hey murderer Assad, how are you going to escape from their curse?" Erdogan said at a rally in the western city of Bursa, referring to the victims.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said the suspected chemical weapons attack shows war crimes continue in Syria.
"The horrific events of yesterday demonstrate unfortunately that war crimes are going on in Syria (and that) international humanitarian law is being violated frequently," Guterres said as he went into a Syria aid conference in Brussels.Guterres said the UN wanted to establish accountability for such crimes and he was "confident the UN Security Countil will live up to its responsibilities."
Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council and has backed President Bashar al-Assad against the rebels, said Tuesday's incident happened after a Syrian air strike hit a "terrorist warehouse" containing "toxic substances." "The arsenal of chemical weapons" was destined for fighters in Iraq, the Russian defence ministry said, adding that the information was "completely reliable and objective."

 

 

Death of 70 people in chemical weapons attack

US threatens unilateral action if UN fails to act

Russia faces fury at UNSC Assad faces war crimes accusition US President Donald Trump warned yesterday that Bashar al-Assads Syrian regime had crossed a line with its latest alleged chemical attack and faces a US response, reports AFP Trump described the strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun as an affront to humanity and warned it had changed his view of the Russian-backed Syrian leader. Previously the White House has said its sole focus in Syria is defeating the jihadist Islamic State group, not on ending Assads civil war against opposition fighters. But Trump and other senior US officials said that the latest attack, which doctors say caused the agonizing deaths of at least 72 people, had changed the calculus. And he renewed his criticism of his predecessor Barack Obama who in 2013 famously failed to take action after Assad crossed a red line with a previous chemical attack. It crossed a lot of lines for me, Trump said, at a joint White House news conference with Jordans King Abdullah. When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies ... that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines, he warned. I will tell you, its already happened, that my attitude towards Syria and Assad has changed very much ... Youre now talking about a whole different level. Trump did not go into detail about what a US response to the atrocity will be -- and he has previously opposed deeper US military involvement in Syrias civil war. When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action, she said. Russia has also been sharply criticised by other world powers at the UN Security Council in New York over the deaths in northern Syria, adds BBC. Moscows suggestions that civilians were poisoned by rebel weapons on the ground have been widely rejected. The UKs foreign secretary, a rebel commander and a weapons expert all said evidence pointed to an attack by the Syrian government, Russias ally. The United States, France and Britain have submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council demanding a full investigation. International donors have pledged $6bn in aid for Syria this year. Seventy donor nations discussed aid efforts in the war-ravaged country in the Belgian capital, Brussels. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday blamed the Syrian government for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people including children, calling President Bashar al-Assad a murderer. Hey murderer Assad, how are you going to escape from their curse? Erdogan said at a rally in the western city of Bursa, referring to the victims. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the suspected chemical weapons attack shows war crimes continue in Syria. The horrific events of yesterday demonstrate unfortunately that war crimes are going on in Syria (and that) international humanitarian law is being violated frequently, Guterres said as he went into a Syria aid conference in Brussels.Guterres said the UN wanted to establish accountability for such crimes and he was confident the UN Security Countil will live up to its responsibilities. Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council and has backed President Bashar al-Assad against the rebels, said Tuesdays incident happened after a Syrian air strike hit a terrorist warehouse containing toxic substances. The arsenal of chemical weapons was destined for fighters in Iraq, the Russian defence ministry said, adding that the information was completely reliable and objective.