Simultaneous Coverage of Reactions to the US, UK, and France's Missile Attack on the Syrian Government

A Syrian soldier stands on the ruins of a research center in the Barzeh area in northern Damascus. On April 14, 2018, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced in a live speech early Saturday that he had ordered an attack on the Syrian government's research centers and chemical weapon depots in coordination with France and the UK. He also warned Russia and Iran to stop supporting Bashar al-Assad's government. This missile attack has elicited various reactions. Trump stated that the attack could not have had a better outcome, and the Pentagon claims that all intended targets were achieved. The Pentagon previously stated that in this joint operation, the scientific research center in Damascus and two military facilities and chemical weapon storage sites of the Syrian government in Homs were attacked. US Defense Secretary James Mattis clarified that the United States has not planned further attacks on Syria. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran condemned the attacks on Syria. The UN Security Council rejected a Russian resolution on Saturday condemning the 'aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the US and its allies for violating international law and the UN Charter.' Only Russia, China, and Bolivia voted in favor of this draft, while eight countries rejected it, and four abstained. Thus, the proposed Russian resolution did not get a chance to be discussed in the Security Council and was rejected. While Russia and Syria claimed that the defense systems deployed in Syria intercepted two-thirds of the missiles fired by the three Western powers, Tasnim, a news agency close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, published exclusive images from one of the Syrian centers that was attacked. The numerous images from this Iranian news agency show severe and nearly total destruction of the facilities that Syria referred to as 'research.' Tasnim also noted, citing Russian sources, that the following locations were also targeted: the headquarters of the 105th Presidential Guard Brigade in Damascus, an air defense base on Mount Qasioun, the Mezzeh military airport, the Barzeh center, the headquarters of the 41st Special Forces Brigade, military positions in al-Ruhaybah in Eastern Qalamoun, and al-Askari, all located in the Damascus countryside, the capital of Syria. Recent reports indicated that Iranian forces and their allies had left their known centers in Syria. The Swedish ambassador to the UN, whose country is a non-permanent member of the Security Council, emphasized in an emergency meeting addressing the Syrian crisis that Bashar al-Assad is responsible for one of the most horrific humanitarian attacks. He added that the current war in Syria has lasted even longer than World War II. Karen Pierce, the UK ambassador to the UN, in a sharp response to the Russian ambassador's remarks during a special Security Council meeting on the Syrian crisis, stated that 'we are facing a long series of violations of international law' by those who have 'no conscience, no sense of remorse, and no acceptance of responsibility for committing shameless acts'; 'those who deny facts; mislead thoughts and spread false information.' The UK ambassador added, 'We do not accept any moral preaching from Russia regarding 'violations of international law.' Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, stated in the UN Security Council meeting that if Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons again, 'we are ready to act.' Ms. Haley said that the attacks by the US and its two allies were 'justified, legitimate, and proportional,' designed and executed 'carefully' with the aim of minimizing human harm. Ms. Haley stated that Syria had been given enough opportunities in the diplomatic arena, and Russia's six vetoes in Security Council meetings were nothing but a green light for Assad to use chemical weapons. Fars News Agency, close to the Revolutionary Guard, in a note by Saadollah Zarai, wrote that in the case of the attack by the US, UK, and France on the Syrian government, 'Russia's failure to take effective action is evident.' This note suggested that 'a defense pact should be established between Russia and Syria on one side and Iran and Syria on the other.' Iran and Russia are considered the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad and have an active presence in the civil war in favor of him. Amir Hatami, the Iranian Defense Minister, in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Ali Ayoub, praised the Syrian air defense for 'intercepting the majority of the missiles' fired by the US, France, and the UK. Mr. Hatami's claim about intercepting 'most' of the missiles fired by the three Western countries comes while the Russian Defense Ministry reported that over a hundred cruise missiles and air-to-ground missiles were fired by the air and naval forces of the US, France, and the UK towards targets in Syria. The Russian army announced that the Syrian air defense systems neutralized 12 cruise missiles that were fired towards the 'Al-Dumayr' airbase, located 40 kilometers from Damascus. A special UN Security Council meeting to address the Syrian crisis began at 19:30 Iran time. Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, who requested this meeting, described the attacks by the three Western powers on Syria as 'aggression against a country with national sovereignty.' The Revolutionary Guard, in response to the attacks by the US, UK, and France against the Syrian government, stated: 'The resilient Syrians, along with their strategic allies in Damascus, will not cease their path until complete victory, and the criminals and aggressors against this country and their regional supporters will not escape unscathed.' This body also threatened that 'the fire of this crime will catch up with its perpetrators and supporters' while condemning the silence or 'complicity' of some Islamic countries with these attacks. Russia called on the UN Security Council to condemn what it termed the 'aggression' of the US, UK, and France against Syria through military attacks. According to AFP, this request from Russia is included in a draft resolution that Moscow submitted to the UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, calling for a discussion on the military operations of these three Western countries against Bashar al-Assad's government.