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Syria 'deconfliction hotline' in use by Russia and US, says Kremlin Syria 'deconfliction hotline' in use by Russia and US, says Kremlin
(35 minutes later)
Russia and the US are using a “deconfliction” telephone line for Syria, the Kremlin has said, as tensions mount over the prospect of a US strike on Russia’s Middle East ally.Russia and the US are using a “deconfliction” telephone line for Syria, the Kremlin has said, as tensions mount over the prospect of a US strike on Russia’s Middle East ally.
“The line exists and it is active. In general, the line is used by both sides,” the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.“The line exists and it is active. In general, the line is used by both sides,” the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.
The US has threatened retaliation after a chemical attack at the weekend on Douma, a town in eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus.The US has threatened retaliation after a chemical attack at the weekend on Douma, a town in eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus.
On Thursday, Donald Trump appeared to row back on the prospect of an imminent strike with a tweet that said action could take place “very soon or not so soon at all”.On Thursday, Donald Trump appeared to row back on the prospect of an imminent strike with a tweet that said action could take place “very soon or not so soon at all”.
On Wednesday he had warned Russia to “get ready” for a missile attack on its ally Syria, suggesting imminent retaliation. But on Thursday he wrote that he “never said when an attack on Syria would take place”.On Wednesday he had warned Russia to “get ready” for a missile attack on its ally Syria, suggesting imminent retaliation. But on Thursday he wrote that he “never said when an attack on Syria would take place”.
France – a possible partner in US action – has proof the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack and will decide whether to strike back when all the necessary information has been gathered, President Emmanuel Macron said. President Emmanuel Macron said France, a possible partner in US action, had proof the Syrian government carried out the chemical attack and would decide whether to strike back when all the necessary information had been gathered.
The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, said western threats to strike were based on “lies”, and that the west was lashing out after it lost its “bet” on opposition forces in the eastern Ghouta. The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, said western threats to strike were based on “lies”, and that the west was lashing out after it lost its “bet” on opposition forces in eastern Ghouta.
The deconfliction hotline was established in 2016 between US central command in Qatar and its Russian equivalent in Syria. It is used to prevent a direct clash between US and Russian forces in the Syrian conflict, where Russia is backing the Assad government and the US supports some opposition forces.The deconfliction hotline was established in 2016 between US central command in Qatar and its Russian equivalent in Syria. It is used to prevent a direct clash between US and Russian forces in the Syrian conflict, where Russia is backing the Assad government and the US supports some opposition forces.
Dozens of Russian mercenaries and other supporters of Bashar al-Assad were killed at a Kurdish base earlier this year after an ill-fated assault backed by US airpower. The deconfliction line was used during that clash. Dozens of Russian mercenaries and other Assad supporters were killed at a Kurdish base earlier this year after an ill-fated assault backed by US airpower. The deconfliction line was used during that clash.
On Thursday, Peskov sidestepped more detailed questions about the discussions over the expected US strike, saying only that “both sides are using the line”.On Thursday, Peskov sidestepped more detailed questions about the discussions over the expected US strike, saying only that “both sides are using the line”.
In April 2017 the Russian military threatened to close the line after Trump ordered a missile strike against a Syrian airbase involved in a chemical attack. Moscow did not follow up the threat.In April 2017 the Russian military threatened to close the line after Trump ordered a missile strike against a Syrian airbase involved in a chemical attack. Moscow did not follow up the threat.
At the United Nations security council earlier this week, both Russia and the group of western allies led by the US voted against each other’s proposals for setting up a body dedicated to investigating the repeated use of poison gas in Syria.At the United Nations security council earlier this week, both Russia and the group of western allies led by the US voted against each other’s proposals for setting up a body dedicated to investigating the repeated use of poison gas in Syria.
On Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry called for the OPCW to deploy specialists before an expected missile strike by US forces, possibly supported by France and the UK. On Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry called for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to deploy specialists before an expected missile strike by US forces, possibly supported by France and the UK.
“Any delay in visiting the location of the alleged incident could lead to another reckless move of Washington, which already fired missiles on Syria’s Shayrat airbase in April 2017 in violation of the UN charter and international law,” the ministry said in a statement.“Any delay in visiting the location of the alleged incident could lead to another reckless move of Washington, which already fired missiles on Syria’s Shayrat airbase in April 2017 in violation of the UN charter and international law,” the ministry said in a statement.
There were signs that Moscow was already preparing for a missile strike. Satellite images released by the Israeli company ImageSat International showed ships had been deployed from Russia’s naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus.There were signs that Moscow was already preparing for a missile strike. Satellite images released by the Israeli company ImageSat International showed ships had been deployed from Russia’s naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus.
Russian media, including the respected business daily Kommersant, reported on Thursday that Russian officials were in contact with the Pentagon over the potential strikes and expected to receive coordinates of the targets before any attack.Russian media, including the respected business daily Kommersant, reported on Thursday that Russian officials were in contact with the Pentagon over the potential strikes and expected to receive coordinates of the targets before any attack.
SyriaSyria
US militaryUS military
RussiaRussia
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
EuropeEurope
Chemical weaponsChemical weapons
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