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Conflict in Syria

Trump says Russia should get ready to shoot down missiles fired at Syria

The US president said that Russia shouldn’t be partners with "Animal who kills his people and enjoys it"

© AP Photo/Evan Vucci

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Russia should get ready to shoot down missiles fired at Syria, US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!" the tweet reads.

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 11 April 2018

Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that "all countries will refrain from steps that, on the one hand, would be totally unwarranted and on the other hand, may exacerbate the already fragile situation in the region."

He added that Russia called for an unbiased investigation into allegations about Syrian chemical weapons.

Washington’s threats

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said that Washington had "a lot of options militarily" on Syria, adding that a decision would be made in 24 to 48 hours.

Read also

Kremlin advocates restraint and impartial probe into Douma’s alleged chemical attack

Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Euronews on Tuesday that Moscow had warned Washington about serious consequences that an attack on Syria could have in case it affected Russians. "Russia has warned US representatives, publicly as well as through proper channels, over the grave consequences that could arise if these strikes happen and whether deliberately or otherwise Russian citizens are hurt," he said.

Alleged chemical weapons attack

A number of non-government organizations, including the White Helmets, allege that a chemical weapons attack took place in Eastern Ghouta’s town of Douma on April 7. In their April 8 statement, the White Helmets claimed that the attack had particularly involved chlorine-filled bombs. According to the White Helmets, dozens died in the attack, while 500 people "reached the medical centers with symptoms of exposure to chemicals."

The Russian Foreign Ministry slammed the statement as a bogus story, while Russia’s Defense Ministry pointed out that the White Helmets were not a reliable source of information as they were known for spreading fabricated news.

Read also

On April 9, officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria visited Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons.

Russian officials many times warned about impending provocations and staged chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Russia and Syria invited experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to visit Douma in order to figure out what happened there. The OPCW has said that a special mission will be sent to Syria and requested Damascus to make necessary preparations.

Tags

Syrian conflict Donald Trump

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