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Syria latest: US 'locked and loaded' if chemical weapons used again – live Syria latest: US 'locked and loaded' if chemical weapons used again – live
(35 minutes later)
Russia has been defeated in its bid to have the US, France and UK airstrikes condemned in the UN security council.
Only three countries - Russia itself, plus China and Bolivia - backed Moscow’s resolution calling for condemnation of the “aggression” by the United States and its allies against Syria.
With eight countries voting against, and four abstentions - Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Peru and Equitorial Guinea - the failure of the Russian resolution was a stinging diplomatic defeat for Moscow.
After the vote, the Russian envoy, Vassily Nebenzia said: “Today is a very sad day for the world, the UN, its charter, which was blatantly, blatantly violated.”
The failure of the resolution confirms how isolated Russia has become on the Syrian issue.
This week, Russia used its veto power for the 12th time to block action in the security council over Syria, including four attempts to establish investigations of chemical weapons use in the country’s seven-year war.
There are five permanent members of the security council – China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - and 10 rotating members, currently Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden.
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, is demanding a vote on a resolution that would condemn “the aggression” against Syria by the United States and its allies.Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, is demanding a vote on a resolution that would condemn “the aggression” against Syria by the United States and its allies.
But Russia’s demand, which calls for military action to stop “immediately and without delay”, will almost certainly be rejected when the resolution is voted on in the Security Council later today.But Russia’s demand, which calls for military action to stop “immediately and without delay”, will almost certainly be rejected when the resolution is voted on in the Security Council later today.
The Canadian prime minister and several European leaders have added their support for the US-led airstrikes against Syrian chemical weapons targets.The Canadian prime minister and several European leaders have added their support for the US-led airstrikes against Syrian chemical weapons targets.
“Canada stands with our friends in this necessary response and we condemn in strongest possible terms” the use of chemical weapons in Syria,” Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.“Canada stands with our friends in this necessary response and we condemn in strongest possible terms” the use of chemical weapons in Syria,” Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.
European council president Donald Tusk, one of the key leaders of the EU, added his voice to the denunciations of Russia and Iran’s support for the Assad regime.European council president Donald Tusk, one of the key leaders of the EU, added his voice to the denunciations of Russia and Iran’s support for the Assad regime.
“Strikes by US, France and UK make it clear that Syrian regime together with Russia & Iran cannot continue this human tragedy, at least not without cost. The EU will stand with our allies on the side of justice,” Tusk tweeted.“Strikes by US, France and UK make it clear that Syrian regime together with Russia & Iran cannot continue this human tragedy, at least not without cost. The EU will stand with our allies on the side of justice,” Tusk tweeted.
Bulgaria, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said: “The strike on Syrian targets was a response to a war crime.”Bulgaria, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said: “The strike on Syrian targets was a response to a war crime.”
German chancellor Angela Merkel described the strikes as a “necessary and appropriate in order to preserve the effectiveness of the international ban on the use of chemical weapons and to warn the Syrian regime against further violations”.German chancellor Angela Merkel described the strikes as a “necessary and appropriate in order to preserve the effectiveness of the international ban on the use of chemical weapons and to warn the Syrian regime against further violations”.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union commission president Jean-Claude Juncker – another EU leader – also issued statements supporting the action.Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union commission president Jean-Claude Juncker – another EU leader – also issued statements supporting the action.
But Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni warned that while this was a “limited and targeted action ... it cannot and should not be the start of an escalation”.But Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni warned that while this was a “limited and targeted action ... it cannot and should not be the start of an escalation”.
Here Julian Borger assesses how dangerous this moment of conflict is for the globe:Here Julian Borger assesses how dangerous this moment of conflict is for the globe:
The US launched military strikes alongside UK and French forces on Saturday morning aimed at damaging the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities in the wake of last weekend’s gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Douma. Some 105 missiles were fired in total, the Pentagon said.The US launched military strikes alongside UK and French forces on Saturday morning aimed at damaging the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities in the wake of last weekend’s gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Douma. Some 105 missiles were fired in total, the Pentagon said.
Moments after Donald Trump finished his address on Friday night, reports emerged of explosions in Damascus at about 2am BST (9pm ET). A Pentagon briefing later confirmed three sites were hit: two in Damascus and one in Homs. The sites were all regarded as being linked to the storage, or testing, of chemical weapons. Syrian air defences responded to the strikes but the US said it had suffered no losses in the initial airstrikes.Moments after Donald Trump finished his address on Friday night, reports emerged of explosions in Damascus at about 2am BST (9pm ET). A Pentagon briefing later confirmed three sites were hit: two in Damascus and one in Homs. The sites were all regarded as being linked to the storage, or testing, of chemical weapons. Syrian air defences responded to the strikes but the US said it had suffered no losses in the initial airstrikes.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, described the strikes as an “act of aggression” and said the attack would worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US, said “such actions will not be left without consequences” and that Moscow was being threatened.The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, described the strikes as an “act of aggression” and said the attack would worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US, said “such actions will not be left without consequences” and that Moscow was being threatened.
The US ambassador to the UN said Washington was “locked and loaded” to strike again if Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad again uses chemical weapons, at a fiery UN security council meeting in which the Russian ambassador accused the US, UK and France of “diplomatic hooliganism”.The US ambassador to the UN said Washington was “locked and loaded” to strike again if Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad again uses chemical weapons, at a fiery UN security council meeting in which the Russian ambassador accused the US, UK and France of “diplomatic hooliganism”.
If you want to read more about today’s developments, read this:If you want to read more about today’s developments, read this:
If you you want to read more about the world’s reaction to the strikes in Syria, read this:If you you want to read more about the world’s reaction to the strikes in Syria, read this:
Thanks for reading. I am handing over the blog to my colleague Edward Helmore.Thanks for reading. I am handing over the blog to my colleague Edward Helmore.
Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said all members of the organisation back this morning’s airstrikes conducted by the US, the UK and France following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council - the principal political decision-making body of Nato.Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said all members of the organisation back this morning’s airstrikes conducted by the US, the UK and France following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council - the principal political decision-making body of Nato.
The United States, France and Britain told Nato envoys on Saturday their coordinated air strikes on Syrian government targets overnight were a last resort and aimed to stop more chemical attacks, the alliance’s chief said.The United States, France and Britain told Nato envoys on Saturday their coordinated air strikes on Syrian government targets overnight were a last resort and aimed to stop more chemical attacks, the alliance’s chief said.
The three allies briefed Nato ambassadors at a special session at the alliance headquarters and won support from the other 26 Nato members, who sought more diplomatic pressure to uphold an international ban on poison gas attacks like the one the West believes Syria conducted on April 7 in Douma.The three allies briefed Nato ambassadors at a special session at the alliance headquarters and won support from the other 26 Nato members, who sought more diplomatic pressure to uphold an international ban on poison gas attacks like the one the West believes Syria conducted on April 7 in Douma.
The strikes “degraded the capabilities of Syria to conduct new attacks and at the same time send a clear message which deters further attacks”, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference after the meeting.The strikes “degraded the capabilities of Syria to conduct new attacks and at the same time send a clear message which deters further attacks”, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference after the meeting.
“We will never have a total guarantee against new attacks as long as we have regimes which are willing to use chemical weapons,” he said. “Chemical weapons cannot be used with impunity and cannot be normalised.”“We will never have a total guarantee against new attacks as long as we have regimes which are willing to use chemical weapons,” he said. “Chemical weapons cannot be used with impunity and cannot be normalised.”
Nato was not involved in the strikes.Nato was not involved in the strikes.
In a separate statement, Nato envoys called on Syria, Russia and Iran to allow “rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access” to areas targeted in Syria’s seven-year-old war.In a separate statement, Nato envoys called on Syria, Russia and Iran to allow “rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access” to areas targeted in Syria’s seven-year-old war.
The UK ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, told the security council meeting there had been “clear boundaries” in the action that had been taken in an attempt to avoid escalation.The UK ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, told the security council meeting there had been “clear boundaries” in the action that had been taken in an attempt to avoid escalation.
She said repeated attempts to hold the Syrian regime to account had been met with Russian “obstruction and resistance”.She said repeated attempts to hold the Syrian regime to account had been met with Russian “obstruction and resistance”.
“We have repeatedly in this council attempted to overcome this obstruction, without success,” she said.“We have repeatedly in this council attempted to overcome this obstruction, without success,” she said.
“We are faced with a litany of violations, no sense of guilt, no sense of regret, no sense of responsibility, a shameful record wrapped in a mix of denial, deceit and disinformation.”“We are faced with a litany of violations, no sense of guilt, no sense of regret, no sense of responsibility, a shameful record wrapped in a mix of denial, deceit and disinformation.”
Pierce finished by adding: “I will take no lessons in international law from Russia.”Pierce finished by adding: “I will take no lessons in international law from Russia.”
In Brussels, where officials have been watching developments closely, all eyes are on Russia’s possible reaction. One senior minister, who preferred to remain unnamed, said while it thought Moscow would pursue diplomatic channels in the coming days, a more strident response could not be ruled out.In Brussels, where officials have been watching developments closely, all eyes are on Russia’s possible reaction. One senior minister, who preferred to remain unnamed, said while it thought Moscow would pursue diplomatic channels in the coming days, a more strident response could not be ruled out.
“There is definitely concern over what Russia will do but for the moment it seems they will not react militarily,” said the official who holds a post at the highest levels of the European Commission.“There is definitely concern over what Russia will do but for the moment it seems they will not react militarily,” said the official who holds a post at the highest levels of the European Commission.
“We’ve been meeting this afternoon to discuss reaction and the feeling is Moscow will definitely do something beyond the diplomatic although what no one knows. It can turn off gas [supplies to Europe] or ratchet up tensions in the Ukraine again.”“We’ve been meeting this afternoon to discuss reaction and the feeling is Moscow will definitely do something beyond the diplomatic although what no one knows. It can turn off gas [supplies to Europe] or ratchet up tensions in the Ukraine again.”
The United States is “locked and loaded” to strike again if Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s government again uses chemical weapons, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the security council on Saturday.The United States is “locked and loaded” to strike again if Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s government again uses chemical weapons, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the security council on Saturday.
“We are confident that we have crippled Syria’s chemical weapons program. We are prepared to sustain this pressure, if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will,” she said.“We are confident that we have crippled Syria’s chemical weapons program. We are prepared to sustain this pressure, if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will,” she said.
“If the Syrian regime uses this poison gas again, the United States is locked and loaded,” Haley said.“If the Syrian regime uses this poison gas again, the United States is locked and loaded,” Haley said.
.@USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley: "The United Kingdom, France and the United States acted to deter the future use of chemical weapons by holding the Syrian regime responsible for its atrocities against humanity." pic.twitter.com/7BADX7obJr.@USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley: "The United Kingdom, France and the United States acted to deter the future use of chemical weapons by holding the Syrian regime responsible for its atrocities against humanity." pic.twitter.com/7BADX7obJr
Cyprus’ respected former foreign minister Ioannis Kassoulides has described the wait for the airstrikes “as more painful than the strike itself.” Four RAF Tornados took off from Akrotiri, in the island’s south armed with Storm shadow missiles, around 3 AM before returning to base less than two hours later after firing eight missiles at a chemicals weapons facility near Homs. “I believe that it will be forgotten in the coming days, also by those wishing to book their holidays in Cyprus,” he said shortly before the British prime minister Theresa May called her Cypriot counterpart president Nicos Anastasiades to brief him on the military action.Cyprus’ respected former foreign minister Ioannis Kassoulides has described the wait for the airstrikes “as more painful than the strike itself.” Four RAF Tornados took off from Akrotiri, in the island’s south armed with Storm shadow missiles, around 3 AM before returning to base less than two hours later after firing eight missiles at a chemicals weapons facility near Homs. “I believe that it will be forgotten in the coming days, also by those wishing to book their holidays in Cyprus,” he said shortly before the British prime minister Theresa May called her Cypriot counterpart president Nicos Anastasiades to brief him on the military action.
Earlier, the government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou had predicted that the strikes would be “ a face saving” exercised aimed. squarely. at sending a message to the Syrian regime and Russia.Earlier, the government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou had predicted that the strikes would be “ a face saving” exercised aimed. squarely. at sending a message to the Syrian regime and Russia.
Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya has said the US-led strikes in Syria were “an act of aggression” against a sovereign state, accusing the UK, France and the US of “diplomatic hooliganism” and showing a blatant disregard for international law.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres spoke at the start of the meeting. He called on all members of the security council to show restraint and avoid further escalation in Syria. He said Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors are in Syria and ready to inspect the site of last Saturday’s chemical attack near Damascus.
The OPCW confirmed this a short while ago.
🔴 BREAKING: #OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team has arrived in Damascus, #Syria to commence its work.
Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian ambassador to the UN, is about to share his thoughts.
The UN security council meeting on Saturday’s strikes in Syria is just about to start. We will bring you the key developments.
Photos of the aftermath of the strikes on the Syrian Scientific Research Centre near Damascus have been taken during press tour organised by the Syrian information ministry on Saturday.
Melania Trump has joined her husband in thanking the US military, although she does not mention the strikes in Syria directly.
1/2: Thank you to the strong & courageous members of our U.S. military all over the world! Your continued contributions & commitment to the safety of our great nation will never go unnoticed or unappreciated.
2/2: And to all military families, especially the children, thank you for your sacrifice. #monthofthemilitarychild 🇺🇸
Russia has proposed a draft United Nations security council resolution that would condemn “the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the U.S. and its allies in violation of international law and the U.N. Charter”, Reuters are reporting.
It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. It was unlikely to get the minimum nine votes needed to force a veto by the United States, France or Britain, said diplomats. A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States to pass.
Read more about the Russian response to the strikes here:
Over at the RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus it is business as usual barely 12 hours after four Tornados returned from their overnight bombing mission.
Within hours of the strikes, the sleepy village outside the British base had returned to its somnolent ways: parents taking their kids to weekend dances, the elderly pegging clothes to washing lines, locals downing beers in the Swan pub.
By midday, long before US president Trump tweeted “mission accomplished,” the roar of the four Syria-bound Tornados flying overhead was a distant memory. “We woke up with all the noise but that’s nothing new here,” said Giorgos Xenophontas, serving bar food at the Swan. “Usually it’s two, [fighter bombers] not four, flying out at the same time and 3am is an unusual hour but it’s kinda over now and forgotten.”
Giorgos Philippou, who owns the fish and chip shop in the village with his English wife, Shaniece, dismissed fears of Russian retaliation widely circulated in the media. “We’ve heard a lot about that here,” he quipped. “But I don’t think there is anyone who seriously believes it would happen. Why would they strike here and not stage a counter attack in Britain? ”
Others, however, were concerned that Russia would at some point react – and that the village - population 1,000 - could be hit. Security concerns have grown as sorties out of the base by bomber jets targeting Islamic State sites in Syria and Iraq have also risen.
“Everyone worries, especially those with children, that there could be some kind of punishment,” said Bambos Charalambos, 44, a public works employee with the Cypriot government. “They just prefer to keep quiet because most in Akrotiri work at the base and, in some way, are dependent on it.”
Locals still have vivid memories of a RAF tornado jet losing two missiles mid-air in July 2015 as it prepared to land back at base on Cyprus. “Lucky for us the missiles didn’t explode,” said Charalambos. “It was really frightening. Russia could react one day and miss the base and target us instead.”
Our world affairs editor, Julian Borger, has written this guide to key players int he Syrian conflict.
Read more here:
Our Middle East reporter, Mona Mahmood, has spoken to Amira Jaber, a 46-year-old mother from Homs province in Syria. A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs, and another storage site and command post nearby were hit early on Saturday morning.
She said:
We were sleeping in peace at midnight and then we were surprised by the horrible sounds of the explosions. The target was the centre of research in Homs. It was something very terrifying especially for the kids.
Trump is mentally ill and he won’t scared us with his rockets. I have two sons, one of them was martyred while he was fighting with the Syrian army to liberate Syria of the criminals and terrorists. My other son is a policeman, he is still doing his job to serve his country. We will win as long as our president is Bashar Al-Assad.
Since the morning until now, demonstrations in Homs are going on and people are marching in the streets to confirm that we will stay in Syria and will defend it with the last drop of our blood. I lost my son and I myself am ready to die for Syria and president Bashar. Trump is a beggar and he wants to get more money form the Gulf for attacking Syria.
We were following Trump’s threats but we did not take any precautions, nothing worse can happen than what we have already gone through. He can do whatever he wants to do. In fact, we will celebrate rather than grieve. Trump is trying to cover his failure in proving that the Syrian army used chemical weapons against Douma. All these allegations were used as a pretext to launch this criminal aggression against Syria. If the Syrian army wants to use chemical weapons, it would not be fighting for all these long years to avoid causing harm to any civilians. The war would have been much shorter but whenever the Syrian army achieves a victory on the ground and clean its land of terrorists, the US and its coalitions fabricate lies to attack Syria, something that will never undermine our will and love for our country.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has told a press conference the actions of UK, US and France in Syria are “unacceptable and lawless”.