Russia to Take Tit-for-Tat Steps Should US Strike Syria, Shamanov

MOSCOW- Russia will take all political, diplomatic and military retaliatory measures if necessary should the United States deliver a strike on Syria, Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Defense Committee Chairman and former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Airborne Troops Vladimir Shamanov said on Tuesday.

“The politics of double standards have hit rock bottom. And here the United Russia party conscientiously states that all political, diplomatic and military measures if necessary will be taken. No illegal action will remain unanswered,” Shamanov vowed at a plenary meeting of the State Duma, according to Itar Tass.

 The senior MP was indignant over US President Donald Trump’s statement about Washington’s response within 48 hours, saying: “They should not pin their hopes on their naval task forces and their deceptions. We are a sovereign country and we have allies and guarantors for those events taking place in Syria. We won’t let the Americans hammer nails on someone else’s anvil.”

Shamanov stressed that Russia’s possible measures need to be considered and responsible. He also emphasized that the report on the alleged chemical attack in Syria’s Douma is absolute provocation.

“Today military chemists have confirmed in the presence of members of Syria’s administration that no traces were found in the hospital where these fakes were made, and no victims have been confirmed and discovered,” he noted.

The lawmaker said the number of countries taking part in the Syrian conflict has increased. “In total violation of international rules, a couple of Israeli jets entered Lebanese airspace, delivered a strike on a neighboring sovereign country…directly on an airfield of the Syrian army. So, the number of countries involved in the conflict is rising.”

Israel launched the strike without notifying Russia through the channels of the Russian General Staff or the Foreign Ministry, he said.

Russia warns US against Syria strike

Moscow has warned Washington of serious consequences of a possible strike on Syria if it causes casualties among Russian citizens, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said in an interview with Euronews on Tuesday.

According to the Russian diplomat, the United States’ possible strikes after an alleged chemical attack in Syria’s Douma will be “a response to something that never happened.”

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would make a decision on how Washington would respond to the suspected chemical attack in Syria’s Douma in 24 to 48 hours.

Some non-governmental organizations, including White Helmets, claim that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, on April 7. According to the claims uploaded to the organization’s website on April 8, chlorine bombs were dropped on the city to kill dozens and poison other local civilians who had to be brought to hospital.

The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that as fake news. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that White Helmets were an unreliable source, notorious for disseminating falsehoods. The Russian center for the reconciliation of conflicting parties on April 9 examined Douma to find no traces of chemical weapons. Earlier, various official Russian agencies repeatedly warned that preparations had been underway in different parts of Syria for provocations and simulations of chemical attacks that would be blamed on government forces.

H.M