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UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Friday threatened further military action in Syria following its missile strikes on an air base in the war-wracked country in retaliation for an apparent chemical attack.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley delivered the warning at an emergency session of the Security Council where Russia accused the US of violating international law and waging an “act of aggression” against Syria.
“The United States took a very measured step last night,” Ms Haley said. “We are prepared to do more, but we hope it will not be necessary.”
Damascus and its ally Moscow furiously condemned the missile strike that marked the first direct US assault on President Bashar al Assad’s government.
Russia’s Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov warned of “negative consequences” from the US military action, which he described as a “doubtful, tragic enterprise”.
“Look at Iraq, look at Libya,” he said, referring to Western interventions that unleashed years of chaos in those countries.
China too warned that it could lead to “further deterioration” of an already tense situation in the region.
Russia warns of ‘negative consequences’
But US allies rallied around Washington after President Donald Trump launched the massive strike in retaliation for a “barbaric” chemical attack.
Ms Haley said the strikes destroyed an air field from which the US believes the attacks on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun were launched, killing 86 people including 27 children.
“We were fully justified in doing so,” she said. “The United States will no longer wait for Assad to use chemical weapons without any consequences,” Ms Haley said. “Those days are over.”
Mr Assad’s office called the strike “foolish and irresponsible” and Moscow announced a series of retaliatory steps including plans to strengthen Syrian air defences.
The US fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from warships in the Mediterranean at the Shayrat airfield, dealing heavy damage to the base near Homs.
The United States did not seek Security Council authorisation for the military action that followed days of global outrage at images of dead children from the suspected sarin gas attack.
Syrian state news agency SANA said nine civilians were killed in villages near the base.
“What America did is nothing but foolish and irresponsible behaviour, which only reveals its short-sightedness and political and military blindness to reality,” Mr Assad’s office said.
Russia immediately suspended an October 2015 deal with the US aimed at avoiding clashes in Syrian airspace.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, another staunch Assad ally, tweeted that the strike was based on “bogus CW allegations” and would aid jihadists like the militant Islamic State group.
Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey all supported Washington, with Ankara also calling for a no-fly zone in Syria.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura announced the UN-backed ceasefire taskforce on Syria that is co-chaired by Moscow and Washington would meet soon at Russia’s request.
In Khan Sheikhun, residents welcomed the US strike as a way to pressure Damascus. “God willing, these strikes will be a clear warning to Bashar al Assad, to tell him: Bashar, enough killing and injustice against these people,” said Abu Ali, a man in his 40s.
The Security Council meeting was called by Bolivia which termed the US strikes a violation of international law. Bolivian Ambassador Sacha Lorenti said the US behaved like “investigator, attorney, judge and executioner”.
Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2017
