Washington, United States | AFP | The United Nations warned world powers against letting the crisis over an alleged chemical attack against civilians in Syria from “spiraling out of control” after US President Donald Trump said “missiles will be coming.” As tensions mounted over a face-off with Damascus-ally Russia, opponents …
Read More »Russia vetoes UN bid to set up Syria chemical weapons probe
United Nations, United States | AFP | Russia on Tuesday vetoed a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution that would have set up an investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria following an alleged toxic gas attack in rebel-held Douma. It was the 12th time that Russia has used its …
Read More »Erdogan vows perpetrators of E. Ghouta massacre will pay ‘heavy price’
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday vowed those behind the killings of civilians in the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta would pay a “heavy price”, after an alleged chemical assault killed dozens. “I curse those who carried out this massacre. Whoever has done …
Read More »Assad, backers ‘must be held to account’ if chemical attack confirmed: British PM
Copenhagen, Denmark | AFP | Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his backers “must be held to account” if a suspected poison gas attack on the rebel-held town of Douma is confirmed, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday. “If confirmed this is yet another example of the Assad regime’s …
Read More »EU says ‘evidence points’ to chemical attack by Syria regime
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The EU said Sunday that evidence suggested the Syrian regime carried out a chemical attack in Douma and urged Damascus’s allies Russia and Iran to help prevent another one. The European Union’s diplomatic arm said it condemns “in the strongest terms” the use of chemical weapons …
Read More »France seeks urgent UN Security Council meet on Syria
United Nations, United States | AFP | Nine of the 15 United Nations Security Council members have demanded an urgent meeting Monday after an alleged chemical attack on Syria’s rebel-held town of Douma, diplomatic sources said. France initiated the move, and the request was also signed by Britain, the Ivory Coast, …
Read More »Mattis on Syria: ‘We’ll work all this out’
Washington, United States | AFP | Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday that the military is talking with Kurdish partners and others in Syria to resolve questions over US support once the United States eventually withdraws from the war-torn country. President Donald Trump last week said he wants the US presence …
Read More »Rouhani angers Israel with ‘support for terrorists’ jibe
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit out at Iran on Wednesday after President Hassan Rouhani accused Israel of supporting “terrorists” in Syria. “Absurdity has no limits: Iran’s terrorist regime that sends tentacles of terror across the region accuses Israel of terrorism,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. “If …
Read More »Trump wants US troops to ‘get out’ of Syria
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants American troops to “get out” of Syria, even as some of his top officials stressed the need to stay for the long term. Trump’s remarks follow comments last week when he vowed US forces would soon quit …
Read More »Putin launches Turkey nuclear project, vows faster arms delivery
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday launched the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power station and vowed to accelerate the delivery of air defence systems to Ankara, in a new tightening of an increasingly close alliance that has alarmed NATO. Putin held several hours of talks with …
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