by Sonam Sheth and David Choi –businessinsider.com – President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the US military, the UK, and France for a series of military strikes on Syria that were carried out late Friday. “A perfectly executed strike last night,” Trump tweeted Saturday morning. “Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!” He added: “So proud of our great Military which will son be, after the spending of billions of fully approved dollars, the finest that our Country has ever had. There won’t be anything, or anyone, even close!” The joint operation, led by the US, was undertaken in response to a devastating chemical attack in the rebel-controlled Damascus suburb of Douma, which killed dozens of people earlier this month. The attack is believed to have been ordered by the Syrian government, spearheaded by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Friday’s military campaign targeted research facilities that are thought to have been involved in the production of chemical weapons. The operation drew a swift and harsh response from Russia, a key Syrian ally. Russia has several military bases and troops in Syria, and the US said Friday that it did not coordinate with or notify Russia of the strikes.
The Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed the allegations against Syria and said its own experts found no “trace of chlorine or any other chemical substance used against civilians.” Following the strikes, Russia called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the military campaign. A Security Council diplomat said the body would meet later Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the operation an “act of aggression” that will only serve to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the US, said in a statement Friday that “the worst apprehensions have come true. Our warnings have been left unheard. A pre-designed scenario is being implemented.” “Again, we are being threatened,” Antonov continued. “We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris.”
During a week of tense sabre-rattling, Russian officials periodically warned the US that a military response may spiral out of control to war. “Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible,” Antonov said in his statement responding to the US-led military action. “The US — the possessor of the biggest arsenal of chemical weapons — has no moral right to blame other countries.” However, Defense Secretary James Mattis seemed to have anticipated Russia’s rhetoric and addressed it during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Friday evening. “Based on recent experience, we fully expect a significant disinformation campaign over the coming days by those who have aligned themselves with the Assad regime,” Mattis said.
The United Nations Security Council rejected a resolution Saturday from Russia that would have condemned “the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the US and its allies in violation of international law and the UN Charter.” Russia, China and Bolivia voted in favor of the draft resolution, Reuters reported. Eight countries voted against the draft and four abstained. In order to pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the US, France, China, Russia, or the UK. Russia has forcefully denounced a series of joint military strikes that the US, UK, and France launched against Syria late Friday.
Lebanese cardinal warns against ‘new drums of war’ in Syria
by cruxnow.com BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai appealed to world leaders to stop the war in Syria and to work for comprehensive peace through diplomatic means. “As the great powers are beating the drums of a new war against Syria, we regret the absence of a language of peace from the mouths of senior officials in our world today,” said Cardinal Rai, patriarch of Maronite Catholics, in an address April 12 directed to the international community. In reference to the stance of world leaders toward Syria, the cardinal said, “Most tragically, their hearts are devoid of the slightest human emotion toward the millions of innocent Syrians who have been forced to flee their land under the fire of war, its crimes, destruction, terror and violence.” “We appeal to the conscience of the great powers and the international community to work to end the war and to bring about a just, comprehensive and lasting peace through political and diplomatic means – not military,” Rai stressed. “The people of the Middle East are entitled to live in peace and tranquility. The declaration of war is very weak,” he said, adding that peacebuilding is the ultimate in heroism. “Among the great powers, you will remember that we all know how to start wars, but we do not know how they end.” Noting that Lebanon has hosted more than 1.1 million refugees, or nearly half of its population, “at a time when most European countries have closed their doors,” Rai continued: “We ask today, did these countries which are beating the drums of war bear a fraction of the hardship due to the displacement of the Syrian population?” Rai’s appeal came amid threats of military retaliation against Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in the Ghouta region. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that “missiles will be coming.” But on the morning of April 12, Trump tweeted, “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” Opponents of unilateral U.S. action scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council April 12, and Britain also scheduled an emergency Cabinet meeting, The Associated Press reported.
