Tensions are ratcheting up between the United States on one hand and Russia, Iran on the other; nations allied to Syria which was struck by US cruise missiles. US president Donald Trump ordered the airstrikes after the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its opponents-killing about 80 people, including children, …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Sidelined on Syria, UK’s Johnson struggles for status
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The rejection Tuesday of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s proposal for extra sanctions on Russia and Syria is the latest setback for a former Brexit campaigner struggling for political relevance. The decision by the G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Italy came after Johnson …
Read More »US strike destroyed 20 percent of Syria’s working jets
Washington, United States | AFP | Last week’s US strike on a Syrian air base destroyed a fifth of President Bashar al-Assad’s working warplanes, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday. “The assessment of the Department of Defense is that the strike resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani says ‘this man in America’ abetting Syria terrorists
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that “terrorists” were applauding his US counterpart Donald Trump for launching a missile strike on an airbase of his Syrian government ally. But he backed calls for an independent inquiry into a suspected chemical weapons attack on a …
Read More »US strikes on Syrian base: what we know
Washington, United States | AFP | The missile strike against a Syrian air base marks the first time the United States has directly attacked the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Here is what we know so far about the target and the outcome of the strike. – The target – At …
Read More »US threatens military response to Syria ‘chemical’ attack
Palm Beach, United States | AFP | The United States Thursday threatened Syria with military action as President Donald Trump warned “something should happen” following a suspected chemical attack that left at least 86 dead and provoked global outrage. An American decision to strike the regime in Damascus could hinge on …
Read More »Moscow says US has no objective data on ‘monstrous crime’ in Syria
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Kremlin on Thursday said US allegations that Syrian forces carried out a deadly chemical attack are not based on “objective” information. “We consider a much more measured approach necessary and do not think it is possible to surrender oneself to hasty conclusions about what happened …
Read More »Russian jets mistakenly bomb US-backed forces in Syria
Washington, United States | AFP | Russian warplanes bombed US-backed fighters in several small villages in northern Syria after they mistakenly thought Islamic State forces were in the area, a US general said Wednesday. Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend said Russian and Syrian regime aircraft attacked the villages to the …
Read More »Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria sanctions
United Nations, United States | AFP | Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a Western-backed UN resolution that would have imposed sanctions on Syria over chemical weapons use, in the first clash at the Security Council since US President Donald Trump took office. The twin vetoes came as peace talks …
Read More »Syria attack deals fresh blow to faltering peace talks
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | A suicide assault which killed dozens in Syria Saturday dealt a further blow to already sputtering UN efforts to launch a new round of talks to end the six-year conflict. The Damascus regime vowed retaliation for the assault in Syria’s third city Homs — and …
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