Washington: Responding to Saturday’s chemical attacks in Douma, a rebel-controlled town in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, United States President Donald Trump took to Twitter to vent out his exasperation over the attacks, criticising the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran for backing ‘Animal Assad’.
“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 to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!” tweeted the 45th POTUS.
According to The Atlantic, The White Helmets, a voluntary aide group, pinned the blame for the assault, which claimed more than 40 civilian lives, on the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
However, the regime has rejected the claim, calling it a “fabrication” by Jaish al-Islam, the Islamist group controlling the area. Russia, which has backed Assad throughout the seven-year-long civil war, rejected the claim too.
The US Department of State, in a statement, claimed to be following the reports on Saturday’s attack and added that Russia “ultimately bears responsibility” for the attacks and its consequences.
Trump’s rants, however, remained to be the highlight of the criticisms that were aimed towards the Syrian and Russian governments. It also, perhaps, came as a bit of a surprise as Trump has often been criticised for his lack of the same towards his Russian counterpart for his country’s alleged involvement in the meddling of the 2016 US Presidential elections.
Former President Barack Obama had once said that the use of chemical weapons, which is banned under international treaties, which Syria remains a part of, was a ‘Red Line’ for the US’ strategy in the Syrian Civil War.
Chiding his stance, Donald Trump, in another tweet said, “If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!”
ANI