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Russia slams US claim Syria readying chemical attack

June 28, 2017 at 9:48 pm

A poison hazard danger sign is seen after the Assad regime carried out a chemical attack in Idlib Syria on 5 April 2017 [Ogün Duru / Anadolu Agency]

Moscow today blasted US claims that the Syrian regime could be preparing for another chemical attack, calling it a “provocation”.

“We consider all these new insinuations on the topic of weapons of mass destruction – in the worst traditions of the NATO intervention in 2003 in Iraq – just as an invitation to the terrorists, extremists and armed opposition in Syria to fabricate another large-scale provocation using chemical weapons,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.

The remarks came two days after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement: “The US has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children.”

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Spicer said the activities are “similar” to preparations that regime made before this April’s chemical weapons attack by Syrian regime warplanes in Idlib, killing more than 100 civilians.

Russia also warned Washington against further “irresponsible” actions in violation of the UN Charter and generally recognised norms of international law as in the US missile strike on a Syrian regime air base in response to the Idlib attack.

Yesterday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert refused to make public any evidence of regime preparations for a chemical attack, calling it “an intelligence matter”.