Kremlin: Assumptions on chemical attack in Syria ‘dangerous, wrong’

Yamanyoon

The Kremlin has warned that jumping to any conclusions about a reported chemical attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus without confirmed information would be wrong and dangerous as there is no investigation underway into the alleged incident.

Russian officials had previously said that militants in Syria were plotting “provocations” with the use of chemical weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on a conference call with reporters on Monday.

An alleged chemical attack on Saturday in the militant-held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta reportedly left dozens dead.

Eastern Ghouta, which is home to nearly 400,000 people, fell to multiple militant groups in 2012, months after Syria plunged into crisis and has since served as a launch pad for fatal attacks against residents and infrastructure in Damascus.

Damascus, in a statement released late on Saturday, strongly rejected the allegation of using chemical munitions and said that the so-called Jaish al-Islam Takfiri terrorist group, which has dominant presence in Douma, was repeating the accusations “in order to accuse the Syrian Arab army, in a blatant attempt to hinder the Army’s advance.”

“The chemical fabrications, which did not serve the terrorists and their sponsors in Aleppo and Eastern Ghouta, will not serve them today either, as the Syrian state is determined to end terrorism in every square inch of Syrian territory,” read the statement.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday lambasted as “bogus” reports of a chemical gas attack allegedly conducted by the Syrian government in Eastern Ghouta, warning that any military intervention based on such “invented and fabricated excuses” could lead to severe consequences.

“The spread of bogus stories about the use of chlorine and other poisonous substances by (Syrian) government forces continues. Yet another such fabricated piece of information about an alleged chemical attack in Douma appeared yesterday,” the ministry said in a statement.

Turkey concerned over attacks in Eastern Ghouta

In a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday expressed “concern” over recent attacks in Eastern Ghouta, a Turkish presidential source said.

“President Erdogan expressed concern about the attacks in Douma and Eastern Ghouta and emphasized the importance of preventing civilian deaths and working together to deliver humanitarian aid,” the source added.

The US and France have vowed a “strong, joint response” to the alleged chemical attack, which came in the wake of the Syrian Army’s push to drive out last remnants of terrorists from Douma.

PressTV