Trump to Russia: ‘Get ready’ for missiles in Syria
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Russia that “nice and new and ‘smart’” missiles “will be coming” into Syria in retaliation for a recent alleged chemical attack and urged Moscow to abandon its partner President Bashar al-assad, calling him a “gas killing animal”.
“Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!,” Trump tweeted. “You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”
Trump was responding to Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin telling Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV that any rockets that threaten Russian forces “will be downed as well as the sources of those rockets”.
According to Trump, the US relationship with Russia is “worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War”. However, mindful of not been seen as giving up on Russia, with whom he has advocated closer ties, Trump blamed the “fake and corrupt” Russia poll meddling probe for “much of the bad blood”’ with the Cold War rival.
Trump’s threats were not well received.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook that the
attack could destroy all evidence of the use of chemical weapons. “Or is it the original idea to use the smart missiles to sweep the traces of the provocation under the rug?” she added.
Syria’s foreign ministry said it was “not surprised by this arrogant escalation by a country like the United States, which has supported terrorism in Syria.” An unidentified ministry official cited by state-run TV accused the Americans of sponsoring the lies of “terrorists” as a pretext to attack Syria.