RUSSIA & IRAN: TRUMP’S CROSSED THE LINE
Assad’s allies talk tough as Johnson pulls out of meeting
RUSSIA and Iran have threatened to “respond with force” to any further American military action against the Syrian regime.
In a worrying escalation that deepened the crisis gripping the Middle East nation, president Bashar al-Assad’s backers last night ramped up the rhetoric following the US cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base.
A joint command centre made up of Russian and Iranian forces and Assad’s militias said in a statement: “What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines.
“From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well.”
The intervention fuels fears the civil war is a proxy battleground for old Cold War enemies and raises the spectre of heightened military tension.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is expected to push for new sanctions against Russia over its support for Syria when he meets G7 foreign ministers in Italy.
It comes as Russia continued to mock Britain after the Foreign Secretary scrapped a trip to Moscow following the horrific chemical weapons attack in Syria.
Vladimir Putin’s regime claimed the UK was “in the shadow” of the US, fuelling claims Johnson was urged by the Americans to abandon his visit.
In a series of provocative tweets, Russia’s London embassy even suggested “conventional war” was possible if the G7 group of the world’s leading countries issued the Kremlin with an “ultimatum” after talks.
Johnson had been due to meet Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will jet into Moscow to issue a “clear and coordinated” message to the Kremlin over its support for the Damascus regime.
Johnson will instead push leading nations to demand Russia withdraws its forces from Syria.
In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry said: “During Johnson’s visit to Moscow there were plans to hold open and exhaustive talks on the entire spectrum of international problems, and to discuss the state of RussoBritish relations, which have, in essence, been forced into a dead end by the UK. The decision to call off
Johnson’s visit to Moscow confirms once again doubts in the presence of added value in speaking to the UK, which does not have its own position on the majority of present-day issues, nor does it have real influence on the course of international affairs, as it remains ‘in the shadow’ of its strategic partners.
“We do not feel we need dialogue with London any more than it does.”
Russia’s embassy tweeted: “It is deplorable that Boris Johnson found himself unfit to stand Western ground on Syria in bilateral talks with Sergey Lavrov.”
Another tweet said: “If yesterday’s statement by @BorisJohnson is to be trusted, R Tillerson will deliver G7 ultimatum to Moscow next week. What are probable outcomes?
“War of clowns, war of muses, a conventional war, a mix of the above.”
In a dig at US president Donald Trump, the embassy went on: “If G7 ultimatum to Russia brings us to real war, what is your trust in @realDonaldTrump as a wartime leader & @BorisJohnson as his lieutenant?”
The Foreign Secretary ditched the trip following last week’s suspected sarin nerve agent strike on the rebelheld town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 87 people, including children. The raid triggered retaliation from the White House, with US warships firing 59 cruise missiles on to the air base that launched the attack.
Johnson’s change of plan also got an angry response at home.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “I think Boris Johnson should be in Moscow now … saying to the Russians just how appalling the situation is and the role that they should play.
“We have got to be frank with them and we shouldn’t just allow the Americans to go off and do that, we should be doing that ourselves.”
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron earlier branded Johnson a Washington “poodle” for scrapping the trip.
Former first minister Alex Salmond told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “Boris Johnson just looks daft.”
He said the Tory looked like a “mini-me” of the US, adding: “That’s not a position any Foreign Secretary would want to be in.”
But International Development Secretary Priti Patel said Johnson was “working with his American counterpart as that is the right thing to do”.
I think Johnson should be in Moscow ..we’ve got to be frank with them JOHN McDONNELL