US, UK and France launched attack in Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack outside Damascus by Bashar al-Assad’s regime. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said more than 100 missiles were fired, and struck three of Syria’s main chemical weapons facilities. Mattis also said that is a “one-time shot” to send a “very strong message” to Assad to “dissuade him, to deter him”. And no attack is planned for now. Russia’s Defence Ministry said the majority of missiles fired were intercepted by Syrian government air defence systems.
Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the US responded by writing on Facebook that “Our worst apprehensions have come true. Our warnings have been left unheard.” And, “we warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.” He also condemned that “insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible” apparently referring to US President Donald Trump’s mention of Russian President Vladimir Putin is his speech.
In Trump’s televised speech, he said “in 2013 President Putin and his government promised the world that they would guarantee the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons. Assad’s recent attack and today’s response are the direct result of Russia’s failure to keep that promise. Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace.”
