Public Reports 'Clearly Show' Assad's Use Of Chemical Weapons
20 February 2018EsinIslam And Agencies
U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on Saturday that, despite
denials, public reports showed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was using
chemical weapons, and added that it was time for the international community
to hold the Syrian government to account.
'Public accounts and photos clearly show that Assad's chemical weapons use is
continuing,' McMaster said at a major international security conference taking
place in Munich.
'It is time for all nations to hold the Syrian regime and its sponsors
accountable for their actions and support the efforts of the Organization for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,' he said.
McMaster did not specify which public accounts or pictures he was referring
to.
Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Syrian
government had repeatedly used chlorine gas, but stressed that the U.S. did
not have evidence of sarin gas use.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that 'France will strike' if
chemical weapons are used against civilians in the Syrian conflict in
violation of international treaties, but that he had not yet seen proof this
is the case.
The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons and said it
targets only armed rebels and militants.
In recent weeks, rescue workers, aid groups and the United States have accused
Syria of repeatedly using chlorine gas as a weapon against civilians in Ghouta
and Idlib.
Earlier this month, Syrian government forces, who are backed by Russia and
Iran, bombarded the areas, two of the last major rebel-held parts of Syria.
Diplomatic efforts have made scant progress towards ending a war now
approaching its eighth year, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people
and forced half the pre-war Syrian population of 23 million from their homes.
US vows investigation into Syria attack involving Russians
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Saturday vowed to investigate an attack
involving Russian citizens on American-allied forces in Syria but stopped
short of accusing Moscow of orchestrating the assault.
Russia has acknowledged that five of its citizens were killed in a US-led
coalition bombing in the eastern Deir Ezzor province after they were part of a
group of pro-regime combatants which led an attack on positions held by the
Syrian Democratic Forces.
'I understand that the Russian government now is saying that some of their
not-military forces, contractors, were involved in that still unexplained
attack,' Mattis said while flying back to Washington after a weeklong tour of
Europe, adding that Russian officers the US coordinated with were 'apparently'
unaware.
'But they took directions from someone. Was it local directions? Was it from
external sources? Don't ask me, I don't know. But I doubt that 250 to 300
people, all just excited on their individual self, suddenly crossed the river
in enemy territory, started shelling a location and maneuvering tanks against
it.
'So, whatever happened, we'll try to figure it out. We'll work with obviously
anyone who can answer that question.'
At the time of the attack on February 7, the Russian defense ministry insisted
it had no servicemen in the eastern province of Syria.
However, many Russian citizens are fighting in Syria as mercenaries working
for a private military company called Wagner according to numerous reports.
Mercenaries not directly affiliated with the Russian military may be
convenient for Moscow's interests in Syria while assuring deniability of
government involvement.
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