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Conflict in Syria

Russia warns US against Syria strike

A Russian diplomat says Moscow has warned the US against launching strikes on Syria

© EPA-EFE/YOUSSEF BADAWI

MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. Moscow has warned Washington of serious consequences of a possible strike on Syria if it causes casualties among Russian citizens, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said on Tuesday.

"Russia has warned US representatives, both publicly and via corresponding channels, including military ones, about serious consequences that might follow possible strikes [on Syria], if Russian citizens are hurt in such strikes, accidentally or not," he said in an interview with Euronews.

According to the Russian diplomat, the United States’ possible strikes after an alleged chemical attack in Syria’s Douma will be "a response to something that never happened."

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would make a decision on how Washington would respond to the suspected chemical attack in Syria’s Douma in 24 to 48 hours.

Some non-governmental organizations, including White Helmets, claim that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, on April 7. According to the statement uploaded to the organization’s website on April 8, chlorine bombs were dropped on the city to kill dozens and poison other local civilians who had to be brought to hospital.

The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that as fake news. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that White Helmets were an unreliable source, notorious for disseminating falsehoods. The Russian center for the reconciliation of conflicting parties on April 9 examined Douma to find no traces of chemical weapons. Earlier, various official Russian agencies repeatedly warned that preparations had been underway in different parts of Syria for provocations and simulations of chemical attacks that would be blamed on government forces.

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