(Newswire.net — April 14, 2018) — Just as the OPCW mission arrives in Damascus to establish facts about the alleged chemical attack on civilians, the US and allies launch missiles on several locations in Syria.
The US, Britain and France targeted infrastructures that according to intelligence produce chemical weapons. In a precision strike, only a few civilians have been wounded.
The US didn’t warn Russian forces and didn’t coordinate strikes with Moscow, according to the U.S. Chief of Staff Joseph Dunford. “We did not do any coordination with the Russians on the strikes, nor did we pre-notify them,” he said, adding that US led strikes hit scientific facilities where a chemical program is being developed.
The US President Donald Trump addressed the nation with strong words accusing Moscow for supporting the atrocity. “What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murderer of innocent men, women and children?“ Trump said adding that „the nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep.“
The Russians have a different stance: “A strike was carried out on the capital of a sovereign state, which for many years has been trying to survive under the threat of terror,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
More than a hundred missiles were launched on civilian and military targets, however, no single one hit the space protected by the Russian military, Russia Today reports.
The Pentagon said the strikes were a “one time shot” to send a strong message to Syrian President Bashar Assad, but in reality, there are no consequences to the Syrian government who already won a war against the West backed rebels.
The OPCW mission will stay and determine facts about alleged chemical attack, which is odd given the punishment for the crime has already been executed. If the mission is unable to determine the Assad’s guilt or in some bold scenario finds facts proving the chemical attack was staged to keep the US aiding the opposition in Syria, nothing will change. The attack was meant to have happened.
The UN General Secretary Antonio Guteresh urged member countries not to act without a UN resolution for it may escalate the tension between countries. „I urge all Member States to show restraint in these dangerous circumstances and to avoid any acts that could escalate the situation,” he said.
The strikes, however, did just that – ease the tension. The US delivered what was promised and Trump is „free“ to battle wars at home, according to analysts. On the other hand, Russian interests in Syria remained intact. The opposition lost and Assad is going to stay.