US warns Syria regime not to use poisonous gas

A Syrian man receives medical treatment after the Assad regime conducted a poisonous gas attack in Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria on 7 March, 2018 [Dia Al Din Samout/Anadolu Agency]

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis yesterday warned the Syrian regime not to use chemical weapons in eastern Ghouta.

Mattis told reporters that it would be “very unwise” for the Syrian regime to use “weaponised gas” adding that “US President Donald Trump made that very clear early in his administration”.

Last year, the US responded to reports that the Syrian regime had used sarin gas against the city of Khan Sheikhoun by attacking the regime’s Shayrat Air Base.

Mattis also criticised the Russian government’s support for the Syrian regime and accused Moscow of being involved in chemical attacks on civilians in Syria.

“Either Russia is incompetent or in cahoots with Assad. There’s an awful lot of reports about chlorine gas use or about symptoms that could be resulting from chlorine gas,” he said.

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