Daily Mirror

YOU ANIMAL, ASSAD

Trump warns Butcher of Damascus & Putin after children gassed in new horror

- BY BEN GLAZE Deputy Political Editor

AMERICA has warned that “no response is off the table” after Syria’s President al-Assad bombed his own people with chemical weapons.

At least 70 died and children were given oxygen masks in an attack that shocked the world.

President Trump blamed Vladimir Putin for “backing Animal Assad”. Russia vowed it would retaliate if the US acted.

US President Donald Trump has warned Russia and Iran they will pay “a big price” for failing to stop Syria in its use of chemical weapons.

A barrel bomb believed to be packed with the nerve agent sarin was dropped over Douma, near Damascus – the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta.

The attack by helicopter troops left at least 70 people dead. The gas suffocates victims in minutes by paralysing their lungs.

Even a tiny dose can kill or lead to brain damage.

Pictures released by rescue volunteers the White Helmets showed children in oxygen masks struggling for breath.

Witnesses said victims foamed at the mouth and suffered

BACKING Assad, left, and Putin

convulsion­s consistent with nerve gas, possibly mixed with chlorine.

Up to 500 received treatment, Douma’s emergency services said.

But Russia and Iran backed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in insisting reports were faked.

Mr Trump blamed Russian president Vladimir Putin directly, tweeting: “Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsibl­e for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Another humanitari­an disaster. SICK!”

More than 500,000 have died in the seven-year civil war in Syria.

White House homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert said the US will not “take anything off the table” in planning its response.

A year ago Mr Trump ordered a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base after 89 died in a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned military interventi­on “under fabricated pretexts… may trigger the gravest consequenc­es.”

And Iran warned: “Such accusation­s signal a new conspiracy and a pretext for military action.”

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “We condemn the use of chemical weapons by anyone.”

The UN Security Council is likely to discuss the attack today.

Putin and Iran are responsibl­e, for backing Animal Assad DONALD TRUMP BLAMES DEATHS ON SYRIA’S ALLIES

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? VICTIM Child in mask and, right, Assad
VICTIM Child in mask and, right, Assad
 ??  ?? DEATHLY PALL Smoke rises above Douma after attack
DEATHLY PALL Smoke rises above Douma after attack
 ??  ?? BATTLE Little boy is treated with oxygen for effects of gas
BATTLE Little boy is treated with oxygen for effects of gas
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 ??  ?? BABES IN ARMS Tots get help breathing in attack horror
BABES IN ARMS Tots get help breathing in attack horror

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