Promising to respond quickly to an alleged chemical weapons attack April 7 in Douma, Syria, President Donald Trump confirmed he’s been meeting with his National Security Council, now headed by former U.N. Amb. John Bolton, on what to do. Still at stake is confirming whether the attack stemmed from the Syrian military or one of its surrogates including Russia, Iran or Hezbollah. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied any attack with chemical weapons. “Nothing is off the table,” said Trump, referring to the U.S. weighing out a measured response. When a chemical attack occurred in Khan Shaykhoun April 4, 2017, Trump responded quickly firing 59 Tomahawk Cruise missiles at Syria’s Shayrat airbase. U.S. and United Nation officials think Saturday’s attack that killed 42 in the Douma neighborhood of Damscus looked similar to the one in Khan Shayknoun.
Warning of grave consequences should the U.S. respond again, the Russian Foreign Ministry discouraged the U.S. from intervening in Syria. Meeting today at the U.N. Security Council to discuss the April 7 chemical attack, it’s all but certain that Russia will continue denying any Syrian government use of chemical weapons. With some estimates at 60 dead, 1,000 injured, Trump reacted harshly. “It was an atrocious attack. It was horrible,” Trump said. “We are very concerned when a thing like that can happen. This is about humanity. We’re talking about humanity. It can’t be allowed to happen,” saying he was weighing his options. Investigating Douma chemical attack, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [OPCW] said it was trying to figure out what happened U.S. and U.N. officials are busy trying to verify the chemical agent used in the attack
Last year’s chemical attack on Khan Shaykhoun used Sarin nerve gas killed at least 74, injuring 557. If U.S. or U.N. officials confirm the use of Sarin, it would violate assurances given by Russia that no chemical weapons would be used by the al-Assad government. “The first thing we have to look at is why are chemical weapons still being used at all when Russia w as the framework guarantor of removing all the chemical weapons,” Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters. Complicating the picture was a missile strike on a Syran T-4 or Tiyas airbase in Homs, killing at least 14. While the Pentagon flatly denied any involvement, the Israeli military would neither confirm nor deny involvement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has growing concerns about Iran and Hezbollah setting up permanent bases in Syria, something threatening Israeli national security.
U.S. and U.N. officials are busy ascertaining whether Syrian rebel forces were capable to hitting their own people with chemical weapons to galvanize international outrage against the Syrian government. With al-Assad winning the battle with Saudi-backed rebel groups, it makes zero sense that al-Assad would resort to chemical weapons. Saudi Arabia’s 56-year-old Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has publicly stated that country would never give up the fight against al-Assad. With desperation growing daily, there’s no low too low for rebel groups to go to preserve their fight against the Damascus government. For over six years, former President Barack Obama backed the Saudi proxy war against Damascus. Obama gave arms-and-cash to various anti-al-Assad rebel groups, yet, refused, once al-Assad killed at least 281, injuring 3,500 Aug. 21, 2013 with Sarin nerve gas, to intervene militarily.
When Trump hit the Shayrat airbase with 59 Cruise missiles, it sent al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin a message that the U.S. won’t tolerate the use of nerve agents by the Damascus regime. No one knows for sure what happened April 7 in Douma but all fingers point to the al-Assad regime. Calling the alleged chemical attack “barbaric,” Trump vowed that action would be taken once the White House had confirmation about the attack. With similarities to the Aug. 21, 2013 Sarin attack, it’s difficult for Damascus to continue the denials in Douma. Trump knows that with U.S.-Russian relations at Cold War lows, another attack by the U.S. against the Syria, Russian, Iranian or Hezbollah military could escalate the war. Russia has put Trump on notice that the Kremlin won’t sit idly by if the U.S. attacks another Syrian airbase, especially where Russian soldiers serve.
U.S. and U.N. officials must get the chemical attack right. If it turns out that Saudi-backed rebels groups launched a chemical attack to turn world opinion against al-Assad, the U.S. and U.N. would be left with zero credibility. U.S. officials still haven’t fully recovered from the egg-on-its-face after U.N. inspectors found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq after the fall of Baghdad April 10, 2003. While all fingers point to al-Assad, the White House must have proof before it endangers world order going after Syria, Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah forces. British Prime Minister Theresa May, still dealing with the Russian nerve agent assassination attempt in Salisbury March 4, vowed that her government would respond in Douma once shown proof of a Syrian chemical attack. French President Emanuel Macron also vowed to respond once he has proof.
