In an interview, Moscow’s envoy to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin stated that any missiles fired at Syria would be shot down and that the sources from which they came would be attacked.
In addition, Kremlin backers such as Igor Korotchenko, a Russian military scholar and member of the Defense Ministry’s public advisory council, stated that the chain of events could lead to a crisis that is as dangerous as the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and that the subsequent events could potentially “provoke World War III.”
“Trump has to understand that we’re going to be talking about the possibility of nuclear escalation if we have a collision of the U.S. and Russian militaries,” Korotchenko said. “Everything can happen very quickly, and the situation can spin out of the control of the politicians.”
According to the interview (below) Zaspikin, Moscow’s envoy to Lebanon, stressed that Russian forces will confront any US aggression on Syria, by intercepting the missiles and striking their launch pads. However, Zaspykin added that a clash “should be ruled out” and that Russia was “ready to hold negotiations.”
The escalation comes amidst a new round of disputes between Russia and The United States after no new resolutions could be agreed upon at a recent United Nations Security Council, which was held on Tuesday. Both the United States and Russia put forth draft resolutions and both nations vetoed each others proposal.
The United States put forth the possibility of an independent investigation to uncover the culprit behind the cause of the dispute, which is, yet again another chemical weapons attack on the people of Syria.
Russia, on the other hand, put forth that the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres choose the investigators, but that the results be reviewed by Russia for “acceptance,” prior to being disseminated publically.
On Sunday, 04-08-2018, Syrian doctors and rescue workers stated that dozens of people had died in an alleged chemical attack on a besieged enclave near Damascus. The attack had killed at least forty people as of Sunday night and took place in the city of Douma. However, more than five-hundred people “were brought to local medical centers with symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent,” according to the Syrian American Medical Society, a US-based nonprofit group that supports health facilities in the area.
After the events unfolded on Sunday, President Donald Trump stated on Twitter;
“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!” – @realDonaldTrump
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...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
In addition, on Monday, President Trump said intelligence assessments are underway and his administration will be making “some major decisions” on Syria over the next 24-48 hours. When the President was asked about the possibility of military action, he responded that “Nothing’s off the table.”
“You don’t see things like that, as bad as the news is around the world, you just don’t see those images,” he continued. Later on, the President stated; “This is about humanity and it can’t be allowed to happen,” “If it’s the Russians, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out.”
The President’s deadline is rapidly approaching and without a resolution from the United Nations Security Council, the response could include another strike on Syria.
Breaking News as of 04-11-2018 at 0723 EST
Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Works Cited
RT. “ Any US missiles fired at Syria will be shot down, launch sites targeted – Russian envoy to Lebanon .” RT. . (2018): . .
Al-Manar Website. “ Russia Vows Confronting Any US Aggression on Syria.” Almanar English. . (2018): . .