Russia, Syria trying to ‘sanitize’ chemical attack site – US State Dept

Reports of the attack prompted Western air strikes against Syria on Saturday, but the Syrian government backed by its close ally Russian Federation denies either using or possessing such weapons. President Donald Trump tweeted a warning well in advance to Russian Federation and he did it in his characteristic manner: the missiles “will be coming, nice and new and “smart”.

Russian Federation is in charge of maintaining security in the area.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of DE left the meeting and told reporters, “The only thing worse than a bad plan on Syria is no plan on Syria, and the President and his administration have failed to deliver a coherent plan on the path forward”.

” ‘We’ve had over a week now where people, lots of different people, we don’t know who may have traipsed in and out of that, ‘ he says”.

Russian Federation appeared in no mood to extend a hand to the West on Syria however and its ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, called the diplomatic push “untimely”.

When revisiting the D.I.M.E., it is apparent that the diplomatic instrument is lacking; Russia, Iran and Syria all have built resiliency into Assad’s regime and have strengthened his resolve. They will be determining the future. “We just proved that”.

“Everyone’s face turned red, women, children, eyes wide open, foam from mouths”, said Yasin, 37, who was at a nearby medical facility set up underground.

“I don’t think it burnished his image at all”.

Moscow had warned the USA before the strike that it could hit back if the United States actions jeopardise Russian servicemen in Syria, and the allies gave Russia an advance warning to make sure no Russians were in the line of fire.

Moscow denies this and blamed delays on the retaliatory US -led missile strikes on Syria at the weekend.

On Thursday, the United States said that it had credible information to suggest that Syria and Russian Federation were working to delay the OPCW mission to Douma as their forces removed evidence that a chemical attack had taken place.

Several residents said that the doctors initially had been treated well, even being offered a meal with a Syrian security official before they were told to deny the attack on camera.

“If the Russians and Syrians have nothing to hide, it’s odd that they would wait 36 to 72 hours”, he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis blamed the Syrian government for delays in inspectors reaching the sites and said it has a history of trying to “clean up the evidence before the investigation team gets in”. As General Mattis said: “Right now, this is a one-time shot”.

The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile.

The state news agency RIA also reported Mr Lavrov saying he was convinced Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump would not allow an armed confrontation between their countries.

The spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Syrian troops found chlorine of German origin in the Eastern Ghouta region, which includes a town where a suspected chemical weapons attack prompted retaliatory missile strikes by the West on Syrian government targets.

The Pentagon said Thursday a “preponderance of the evidence” indicates there were chemical weapons, including “elements” of sarin nerve gas, at the three Syrian sites bombed by the US and its allies last week.

The obstruction is likely aimed at ensuring that proof of the attack disappears, he said, adding that the OPCW must have full, immediate and unimpeded access to the site.

OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told a closed-door meeting of his organization that it remains unclear when the team will be able to deploy to Douma, U.K. Ambassador Peter Wilson told reporters in The Hague.