Russia ‘bears responsibility’ for gas attacks in Syria
Rex Tillerson calls on Syrian leader to stop using chemical weapons
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that Russia bears the ultimate responsibility for suspected chemical weapon attacks carried out by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking at a summit in Paris to push for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria, Tillerson also blasted Russia for “shielding” Syria from UN sanctions.
The comments came a day after an “apparent chlorine gas attack” in east Ghouta, an enclave of rebel support in the Damascus suburbs, which left at least 20 civilians – most of them children – struggling to breathe.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Russia’s failure to resolve the chemical weapons issue in Syria calls into question its relevance to the resolution to the overall crisis,” Tillerson said, before suggesting that Russia abstain from voting on further UN sanctions against Syria.
In a statement, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the latest attack was “yet another demonstration” of Syria’s “blatant disregard for international law and cruel indifference for the lives of its own people.”
The Guardian reports that between 2012 and 2017, there were more than 130 reported chemical attacks in Syria, “with the majority attributed to the Assad regime.”
The Washington Post says there have been “four such attacks since the start of the year, including two on Monday”, and that “dozens of civilians have been treated for symptoms of exposure to chlorine.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Political cartoons for October 26Cartoons Sunday’s editorial cartoons include Young Republicans group chat, Louvre robbery, and more
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Syria's returning refugeesThe Explainer Thousands of Syrian refugees are going back to their homeland but conditions there remain extremely challenging
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come