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14Apr18

UN SC fails to adopt Russia-drafted resolution lambasting air strikes on Syria

The United Nations Security Council did not approve on Saturday the Russia-drafted resolution that condemns air strikes launched by the United States and its allies against Syria.

Three countries - Russia, China and Bolivia - voted in favor of the resolution. Eight countries (including the Unites States, the United Kingdom and France that were delivering strikes on Syria) voted against the document. Four more countries - Kazakhstan, Peru, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia - abstained.

The one-page document submitted by Russia expresses indignation over "the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the United States and its allies, which violates international law and the UN Charter."

The document condemns the Western countries' actions and demands that they "halt the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic immediately and without any delay" and refrain from further use-of-force actions in violation of the UN Charter.

The draft resolution prepared by Russia expresses concern that the strikes against Syria were delivered at a time when experts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons "started their work for gathering evidence of the alleged chemical attack in the town of Douma."

Missile strike against Syria

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

As the Russian Defense Ministry reported, the Syrian air defenses shot down 71 out of 103 missiles fired by the United States and its allies.

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

On April 7, a number of NGOs, including the White Helmets, alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta. According to the statement published on the organization's website on April 8, chlorine bombs had been dropped on the city, killing dozens and poisoning many locals who had to be brought to the hospital.

The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that report as fake news. The Defense Ministry added that the White Helmets were notorious for spreading falsehoods.

Representatives of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Sides held a probe in Douma on April 9 but found no traces of chemical weapons use. On April 10, Damascus sent an official invitation to the OPCW to visit Eastern Ghouta. On the same day, OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu said the organization had made a decision to send its experts to Syria.

OPCW experts were due to begin their probe at the scene of the alleged chemical attack on Saturday.

[Source: Itar Tass, The United Nations, 14Apr18]
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War in Syria
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