US: We Will Act If the Security Council Does Not Address Syria

The US ambassador to the UN warned on Monday, March 12, that if the Security Council does not take action regarding Syria, Washington is "prepared to act if necessary," just as it did last year in response to the Syrian government's chemical weapons attacks by striking one of its airbases. Nikki Haley addressed Security Council members, stating, "This is not an action we prefer, but it is an action we have taken in the past, and we are ready to do it again." On Monday, the US presented a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council for a 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta. Haley noted that a resolution passed two weeks ago to establish a ceasefire in Syria "failed," and that Syrian government forces, with Russian support, have intensified their attacks. She added, "We have drafted a ceasefire proposal that cannot be circumvented or violated." The US has asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to "quickly develop plans to monitor the ceasefire's implementation and civilian movement." It is still unclear when a vote on this draft will take place. The UN Secretary-General has described Eastern Ghouta as a "hell on earth." Meanwhile, Syrian government forces have targeted cities in Eastern Ghouta with airstrikes, and ground forces are advancing to capture areas controlled by rebels. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday that more than 350,000 people have been killed in this war so far. At the same time, hundreds of people have fled their homes due to the advance of Turkish forces in the Afrin region, and it appears that one of the cities in the area, predominantly populated by Kurds, is at risk of being besieged by Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies. The Syrian civil war, which entered its eighth year this week, continues on various fronts, but the government assault on Eastern Ghouta has been one of the heaviest battles throughout the war. Since this offensive began almost a month ago, Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airpower, have managed to capture about 60% of the areas controlled by rebels, dividing these areas into three small besieged sections. The French ambassador to the UN called on Russia on Monday to pressure the Syrian government to stop these attacks, adding, "Russia can stop this bloodbath." According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, government forces and their allies continued their advance on Monday, heavily bombing cities in the Eastern Ghouta region. The organization reported that many missiles hit the cities of Harasta and Arbin, and government forces are using the city of Madira, which they recently captured, to launch missiles at other areas in Eastern Ghouta. Syrian state media also reported that government forces made further advances on Monday, capturing the city of Aftris in the southern part of Eastern Ghouta. Two other areas still under rebel control are Douma, the largest city in the region, and the surrounding areas of Hamouriyah and other towns in southern Eastern Ghouta.