Interview with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad - BBC Newsnight

Evan Davis speaks to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad about the suspected chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria and the subsequent missile strike against a Syrian air base carried out by the US.

Lawmaker Questions Gas Attack Evidence

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) talks about the chemical attack in Syria and the US military strike of a Syrian base with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Debate on US Strike against Syria

Nine civilians are among the 14 people killed in a U.S. missile bombardment, on a Syrian airbase. President Trump says it was a retaliation for a chemical attack despite providing no evidence.

‘Why Would Assad Attack Civilians Not Military? It’s Simply Irrational’ – U.S. Senator

More than 80 people were killed in the incident in Syria, but a few weeks ago in the Iraqi city of Mosul, a U.S.-led coalition airstrike reportedly killed more than 200. In both cases government officials claimed terrorist munitions had been targeted. The Syria attack sparked immediate reaction - both in the media and from Western officials.

Putin Believes US Attack On Syria Violates International Law - Kremlin

President Putin “regards the strikes as aggression against a sovereign nation,” his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, noting that the president believes the strikes were carried out “in violation of international law, and also under an invented pretext.”

Dozens of U.S. Missiles Hit Air Base in Syria

President Trump spoke after the United States carried out a missile attack in Syria on Thursday in response to the Syrian government's deadly chemical weapons attack.

Read the New York Times article here

President Trump Condemns Syrian Gas Attack But Shifts Blame To President Obama | Morning Joe | MSNBC

At least 83 people are dead, including 25 children, following a chemical attack in Syria. The panel discusses the scope of the attack and Donald Trump's response and criticism of Obama.

For Trump, a Focus on U.S. Interests and a Disdain for Moralizing

THE NEW YORK TIMES: WASHINGTON — As the world recoiled at the televised images of lifeless children in the latest atrocity in Syria’s savage civil war on Tuesday, the White House issued a statement expressing outrage just as any White House presumably would.

But where other presidents might have used the moment to call for the departure of Syria’s authoritarian leader, Bashar al-Assad, President Trump’s spokesman dismissed the notion as impractical because it would not happen. “We would look like, to some degree, rather silly not acknowledging the political realities that exist in Syria,” said the spokesman, Sean Spicer. » | Peter Baker | Tuesday, April 4, 2017

France: There Is a Risk of Chemical or Biological Attack, Says Valls

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned the French public of the possibility of attacks from "chemical or biological weapons" as he addressed the French parliamentary in Paris, Thursday.

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Saudi-backed Radicals behind Damascus Chemical Attack - Russian Sources

The August chemical weapons attack in the Syrian capital's suburbs was done by a Saudi Arabian black operations team, Russian diplomatic sources have told a Russian news agency.

Russia Says UN Chemical Attack Report Biased

Findings called "one-sided" by minister who says Syria has provided new proof implicating rebels in August 21 attack.

France and Russia Differ on Syria Gas Attack

France says Assad forces were behind last month's attack that killed hundreds, a claim disputed by Russia.

Assad Guilty of Crimes against Humanity, Says UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary-general, has accused Bashar al-Assad of committing crimes against humanity as he said a UN report next week would provide “overwhelming” confirmation that chemical weapons had been used in Syria.

Read the article here | Damien McElroy in Geneva and Alex Spillius | Friday, September 13, 2013

Syrian War a Contest between Saudi Arabia & Iran - Ex UN Chief Arms Inspector

US military strikes are being held back and may not take place at all, in no small part thanks to Russia. But, is it a progress in a war that has already cost so many lives? Or are we back to square 1? About this and more we ask our guest Hans Blix, who worked as the UN's Chief Weapons Inspector at the time Iraq was accused of having weapons of mass destruction and and invaded as a result.

Mark Alexander: What’s Really Going On at the Top Concerning Syria? » | Sunday, September 08, 2013

Op-Ed Contributor: A Plea for Caution From Russia

What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria
THE NEW YORK TIMES: MOSCOW — RECENT events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies.

Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the opposition, as terrorist organizations. This internal conflict, fueled by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest in the world.

Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience acquired in Syria? After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists moved on to Mali. This threatens us all. » | Vladimir V. Putin | Wednesday, September 11, 2013

'Footage of Chemical Attack in Syria Is Fraud'

RT.COM: There is proof the footage of the alleged chemical attack in Syria was fabricated, Mother Agnes Mariam el-Salib, mother superior of St. James Monastery in Qara, Syria, told RT. She says she is about to submit her findings to the UN.

Mother Agnes, a catholic nun, who has been living in Syria for 20 years and has been reporting actively on what has been going on in the war-ravaged country, says she carefully studied the video featuring allegedly victims of the chemical weapons attack in the Syrian village of Guta in August and now questions its authenticity.

In her interview with RT, Mother Agnes doubts so much footage could have been taken in so little time, and asks where parents of the supposedly dead children are. She promises to send her report to the UN.

The nun is indignant with the world media for apparently turning a blind eye to the Latakia massacre by rebel extremists, which left 500 civilians including women and children dead.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to pay attention to revelations made by Mother Agnes Mariam el-Salib. » | Friday, September 06, 2013

'Rebels Had Motive to Carry Out Chemical Weapon Attack in Syria'

President Assad was not behind a chemical weapon attack last month - the rebels carried it out as a provocation. That's what a letter sent to Barack Obama from former US intelligence and military officials says - citing their own security sources. It was signed by twelve ex-officials. Former US Army Judge Advocate Todd Pierce is one of them and joins RT right now.

'Diplomatic Chaos: Obama in Weak Position, Nation Split'

It looks like President Obama is toning things down after weeks of bombastic statements and threats that the Syrian government deserves a U.S. strike. In an address to his nation - which according to recent polls is against America getting involved into a brand-new war - he agreed to give way to diplomacy first.
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 The prospect of America's strike against Syria has revealed deep public and political chasms within the U.S. - putting president Obama in a very uncomfortable position. That's the belief of Manuel Ochsenreiter - who's been extensively writing on the matter.

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Barack Obama Addresses the Nation on Syria

Inside Story: Why Intervene in Syria Now?

We ask why, when bullets and bombs have killed tens of thousands, it took an alleged chemical attack to inspire outrage.