‘Chaos’ to follow if West strikes again
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin warns that further Western attacks on Syria will bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepares to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.
In a telephone conversation, Mr Putin and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed that the Western strikes had damaged the chances of achieving a political resolution in the seven-year Syria conflict, according to a Kremlin statement.
“Vladimir Putin, in particular, stressed that if such actions committed in violation of the UN Charter continue, then it will inevitably lead to chaos in international relations,” the statement says.
Meanwhile, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told CBS that the US would announce new economic sanctions aimed at companies “that were dealing with equipment” related to Syrian President Bashar alAssad’s alleged chemical weapons use.
Last weekend, the US, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in response to a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7.
The Syrian Government and its ally Russia have denied involvement in any such attack.
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said the Syrian war would inevitably continue after the Western strikes, which were limited to targeting alleged chemical weapons facilities.
Despite describing the intervention as “successful”, Mr Johnson said there were no plans for further attacks.
“I’m afraid that is the unhappy corollary of this, that if we say we’re limiting our action to chemical weapons ... then of course it follows that the rest of the Syrian war must proceed as it will,” Mr Johnson told the BBC.
He stressed the “overwhelming purpose” of the mission was a response to chemical attacks in recent years.
“Finally, the world has said enough is enough,” he said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May was expected to face a backlash yesterday in Parliament, with some MPs angry the Government joined the US-led mission without seeking their approval.