After news of the alleged chemical attack in Douma, many Western countries were not only quick to slam the incident, but also to accuse Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of being behind it, even though the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) hasn’t even begun an investigation into the incident.
Hours after the Russia issued a warning about upcoming provocations with the use of chemical weapons, reports from various NGOs, such as the Al-Qaida-linked "White Helmets,", started to surface of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria's Douma. Some NATO countries were quick to level a barrage of accusations against Damascus before any proper investigation has even been launched.
Damascus met the accusations with harsh criticism, denying all the allegations, calling them an excuse "to prolong the life of terrorists in Douma." It also reminded that Syria is waging a war on terrorism, while certain countries support the terrorists. SANA news agency reported quoting Syrian officials that these allegations were merely a provocation by Jaish al-Islam group and other militants to hinder the advance of the Syrian army.
'AIM TO JUSTIFY POSSIBLE EXTERNAL MILITARY ACTION'
The information attacks about the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government forces aim to cover up terrorists and justify possible external military action, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
"The information attacks alleging the use of chlorine and other chemical agents by the [Syrian] government forces are continuing. Another such fabricated information about a reported chemical attack against Douma emerged yesterday ... We have repeatedly warned of such kind of dangerous provocations recently. The aim of these unfounded, false allegations to cover up terrorists and irreconcilable radical opposition which oppose the political settlement, and at the same time to justify the possible external attacks," the statement read.
The ministry warned against any military action based on far-fetched and fabricated reports, adding that it might have severe consequences.
"It is necessary to warn once again that military intervention under far-fetched and fabricated pretexts in Syria, where the Russian servicemen are deployed at the request of the legitimate government, is absolutely unacceptable and might lead to very severe consequences," the statement said.
The United States seeks to undermine the withdrawal of the Jaish al-Islam militants from the Syrian Douma town by accusing Damascus of using chemical weapons, Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian upper house's Foreign Affairs Committee, said Sunday.
TRUMP CALLED SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD 'ANIMAL'
US President Donald Trump has condemned Iran, Russia and personally President Vladimir Putin for their support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 8 Nisan 2018
"Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
'THE U.S. NOT RULING OUT US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA'
White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser Thomas Bossert may have given a hint as to this "price," saying that he wouldn't "take anything off the table" with regard to Syria.
"I wouldn’t take anything off the table," Bossert told the ABC News broadcaster when asked whether there would be another US missile attack on Syria, as it was after the alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun about a year ago.
"These are horrible photos, we’re looking into the attack at this point. The State Department put out a statement last night and the president’s senior national security cabinet had been talking with him and with each other all throughout the evening and — and this morning and — and myself included," Bossert said.
The official stressed that US allies must increase their contribution into resolving international conflicts, while the presence of US troops must be decreased.
"It is time to move that pendulum back in a way that brings regional partners and others with equities in these matters all around the globe into putting their resources and their treasure and their boys and girls on the line, and not just American troops. American troops aren’t going to fix the six or seven different ongoing conflicts and wars going on in the Middle East or in Syria at this stage. We need regional partnership increased and we need U.S. presence decreased," Bossert concluded.
IT'S APRIL 2017 ALL OVER AGAIN: KHAN SHEIKHOUN INCIDENT
In early April 2017, Syrian militants reported on a chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, which claimed the lives of 80 people and wounded another 200. Washington blamed Damascus for the attack and hit the Shayrat airbase without providing any evidence that the Syrian government had any connection to the attack. Before an official OPCW investigation was concluded, the US unilaterally decided to conduct a missile strike on Syria's Shairat airbase on April 7, claiming it was in response to Damascus alleged use of sarin against the civilian population.
However, since then, the UN and OPCW haven't managed to provide any solid proof as to the Syrian government's involvement in the alleged attack, while also failing to send experts directly to the base, which had been suspected of being the source of the chemical weapons. The Russian Foreign Ministry has reminded that all chemical weapons had been removed from Syria in 2014 with US assistance under the Barack Obama administration. That has been confirmed by the OPCW on numerous occasions.
