US, France jointly criticizes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for chemical attack in Douma

NewsBharati    09-Apr-2018
Total Views |

Washington, April 9: Chemical attack on the last rebel-held Syrian town of Douma which killed at least 70 innocent civilians has brought a worldwide criticism including United States of America and France to the President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. 

The United States President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron criticized Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and vowed a strong, joint response to the horrific attack. During the telephonic conversation, the two presidents agreed that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable for its continued human rights abuses.

The two leaders had instructed their teams to deepen exchanges in the coming days and coordinate their efforts at an emergency session of the UN Security Council later in the day. "All responsibilities in this area must be clearly established," it added.

President Trump on April 8 condemned Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, along with Iran for their support of Assad in the wake of what he described as the "mindless CHEMICAL attack" in Syria on April 7 that left "many dead, including women and children." Trump also called Assad an "animal" and said there would be a "big price to pay" for the use of weapons of mass destruction.



Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday night following requests by Russia and the United States after a deadly chemical attack in Syria. Russia called for a meeting of the 15-member council on international threats to peace and security while 9 countries including US, UK and France had called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over an alleged chemical attack in Syria.

BACKGROUND:

At least 70 innocent civilians were killed and a dozen others were injured in the suspected chemical attack on the last rebel-held Syrian town of Douma. However, Syrian forces said that they are not involved in any gas attacks.

Earlier, in the month the Syrian government reclaimed Eastern Ghouta province which was held by Islamist-dominated fighters after a relentless six-week airstrike with rockets, barrel bombs. During the six-week of an offensive, at least 1,644 civilians, including 344 children, have been killed while hundreds of others were injured.

Despite the ban, chemical attacks are regularly used in Syria. The United States has already blacklisted 18 senior Syrian officials who were connected to the country’s weapon of mass destruction program and also identified five Syrian military branches as part of the Government of Syria was using chemical weapon attacks against civilians.