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Conflict in Syria

Post-Soviet security bloc convening emergency meeting over strike on Syria

The missile strike against Syria’s military and civilian infrastructures was carried out by US warplanes and naval ships in cooperation with the British and French air forces on April 14

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet security bloc, is convening an emergency meeting of its Permanent Council over the situation in and around Syria on April 14, the CSTO press service reported on Saturday.

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"The Collective Security Treaty Organization is convening an emergency meeting of its Permanent Council over the situation around Syria at Russia’s initiative today. CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov will take part in the meeting," the press service reported.

Strike on Syria

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile strike against Syria’s military and civilian infrastructures was carried out by US warplanes and naval ships in cooperation with the British and French air forces between 03:42 and 05:10 Moscow time on Saturday.

The ministry reported that a total of 100 cruise and air-to-surface missiles had been fired (while 59 missiles were fired at the Shayrat Airbase last year), most of them were shot down by Syria’s air defense units upon approaching their targets.

The United States, the UK and France said the strikes were a response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria’s Douma.

A number of non-governmental organizations, including the White Helmets, earlier alleged chemical weapons had been used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, on April 7. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed these reports as fake news. Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry pointed out that the White Helmets are notorious for spreading falsified information.

On April 9, officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria visited Douma but found no trace of chemical weapons there.

Experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) were to begin work there on Saturday.

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