Russia claims chemical attack in Syria is 'fake'

The Russian foreign ministry has warned the United States against using military force in response to “fake news” regarding the recent chemical weapon attack in Syria’s eastern Ghouta.

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday that reports of the alleged chemical attack are based on testimonies from the Syrian Civil Defence or White Helmets and so-called rights organizations based in Britain and the United States who have been previously caught collaborating with terrorists.

The statement warned that any foreign military intervention under fabricated pretexts in Syria, where at the request of the lawful government there are Russian military personnel, is absolutely unacceptable and can lead to the most serious consequences.

“The news of the use of chemical weapons in Douma came at a time when the Syrian army continues its combat operations in eastern Ghouta in order to liberate its population from insurgents and terrorists,” the foreign ministry said, adding that extremists use civilians as human shields.

Read: Chemical attack kills 40 in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta

According to the statement, “those who do not want to see one of the terrorists last strongholds in the Syrian territories destroyed and do not seek a genuine political settlement try by all means to escalate the situation and obstruct the process of evacuating civilians from the region”.

Earlier on Sunday, US President, Donald Trump promised that the Syrian regime of President Bashar al- Assad will pay a heavy price for the chemical attack that killed many people, including women and children in the city of Douma.

The US president also said Russia and Iran responsible for the massacre by supporting the head of the Syrian regime.

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

On Saturday evening, the rebel held town of Ghouta near Damascus was hit by airstrikes that killed at least 150 civilians, including dozens of children and women. Reports from the town said patients were rushed to hospitals with symptoms similar to those resulting from chlorine barrel bombs.