US President Donald Trump warned Russia on Wednesday that missiles “will be coming” in response to a suspected chemical attack in Syria.
Trump said two days ago there would be a “big price to pay” for the attack on the rebel-held town of Douma, which killed more than 40 people on Saturday.
On Wednesday, he ramped up his rhetoric, saying it was clear that both Russia and Iran shared responsibility for the attack and that missiles “nice and new and smart” could be coming.
He hit out at Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he damned as a “gas killing animal.”
Moscow, in response, said that any US missiles fired at Syria would be shot down and the launch sites targeted, raising the threat of a US-Russian confrontation.
Russia said the US government should target “terrorists” and not “legitimate government” in Syria.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Meanwhile, Europe’s air traffic control agency warned airlines to exercise caution due to possible airstrikes on Syria. Some airlines were reported to be re-routing flights in the eastern Mediterranean because of the increasing threat of conflict and a repeat of the disaster over Ukraine in July 2014 when a Malaysian Airlines flight with nearly 300 passengers and crew on board was shot down by a missile.
The World Health Organization said today that around 500 people had been treated for “signs and symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals” after the suspected poison gas attack on the rebel enclave near Damascus.
WHO also said that more than 70 people sheltering from bombardment in basements in the former rebel pocket of eastern Ghouta, where Douma is located, were reported to have died. It said 43 of those deaths were “related to symptoms consistent with exposure to highly toxic chemicals,” citing reports from its local health partners.
“We should all be outraged at these horrific reports and images from Douma,” said Peter Salama, WHO’s deputy director-general for emergency preparedness and response.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday she regretted that the United Nations Security Council was unable to agree on joint language on the escalating conflict in Syria.
Earlier, the Kremlin said it hoped all sides involved in Syria would avoid doing anything that could destabilize an already fragile situation in the Middle East and made clear it was strongly opposed to a possible US strike on its ally.
A group of Russian lawmakers plans to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Interfax news agency reported citing a Russian lawmaker.
– with reporting by Reuters
ASAD IS WISER THAN GADAFI
U type of people should be killed for the sake of humanity
Last week 150 studends, mostly children, of religious school were killed in US Airstrike in Qundus Afghanistan !!!
Let d Muslim kill each other until dey all r wiped off 4m d face of d earth.
let d syrian people kill each other until d end
Trump is a joker. Big mouth. Simply a reality TV star. While no doubt about the Chemical attack in Syria… despicable.. how we know who the real culprit is? The losers may have just tried the one last trick to drag US in he conflict which is not going to happen. Or just get a slap on the wrist to Assad. Lobbing a few missiles and giving advance warning to Assad and Russians serves what purpose? Except give the public some satisfaction? Shame Shame. Assad and Russians would simply clear off the area and let the misiles land safely. Afterwards the pictures would emerge of a damaged runway which probably was damaged 5 years ago. What a joke? This guy in the WH simply has no back bone and is scared like hell from Putin ( KGB guy knows someting for sure we don’t) Poor Syrian people. Who cooked up the civil war in Syria to begin with?? Good things will come out of the rubbles and shattered families and homes… Iran will reach on the Syrian side at the Israeli border on one side and Hizbullah from Lebanese border.Iranians will have all the Russian and their own home made Air defence systems and plenty of Jihadis and Revolutionary Guards along with battle hardend Syrian soldiers. That will stop the Israelis from a free hand target practice and get them real fighters for a change. That would be a fair and blanced fight for a change. Some amazing things will happen we just have to wait and see. Enough is enough. One thing is for sure people in the Mid East will see Russia as the most reliable friend and US as ……. Poor Kurds…. Would anybody ever trust or believe in America? How did the America got to this point? Wake up America.
Assad is not stupid enough to try to lose a war he is winning. White Helmets are Al-qaeda in drag. Terrorist win if Trump bombs Syria. Who gains?
Are you ready for WWIII, we invaded Iraq over lies of WMDs, now the
Anti- Syrian rebels attacked children and lied saying it was Syria. Trump is the new Dumb Bush. https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Gregory-James-Mundy/dp/1986670600/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523214266&sr=8-3&keywords=the+truth+about+911