THE SYRIAN WAR has taken yet another turn after dozens of people were killed in a chemical weapons strike in the rebel-held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta. Donald Trump responded quickly condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and attacking Russia for assisting them. Washington have stated that if evidence confirms that Assad was involved, they would demand an immediate international response.
The Syrian government denied its forces had launched any Chemical Attack as reports began circulating on Saturday night. The government said rebels in Douma were collapsing and spreading false news.
UN and Israel
Russia rejected a new US proposal at the United Nations on Monday to set up an investigation to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. The United States put forward a draft resolution to the Security Council following alleged toxic gas use in the rebel-held town of Douma that killed at least 40 people.
France will retaliate against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if evidence emerges that it was behind a recent suspected chlorine gas attack in a rebel-held enclave, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said Tuesday. The prime minister's spokesman said it was clear that those responsible “must be held to account” and that the prime minister would raise the issue during meetings with counterparts in Sweden and Denmark on Monday.
Shortly after the chemical attack, Israel launched a raid on an airbase in Syria. But why would they choose this moment to attack? There are several reasons but whilst the world is reeling and debating the chemical attack, they can quietly position themselves in Syria to contain Iran. Leila al-Shami, the co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, said that the attack was due to Israel's own internal security considerations rather than the massacre in Douma.
Al-Shami told the Middle East Eye, "Most of the time Israel has been involved [in Syria] it has been to do with their security priorities," she said. "Assad being in power has, by and large, been useful for Tel Aviv as it has been quiet on Israel's border.
Israel moving in on territory has always been about the protection of their plans for a greater Jerusalem and Iran pose an outside threat.
Russia haven’t necessarily been allies of Israel but they have been in agreement with them over Syria and the Israel have benefitted from Russia being involved within the region. But this move does make it look like that they no longer believe that Russia are going to be able to keep Iran in check. There is a possibility that Israel carried out the chemical attack to distract the world from their own moves.
Knowledge that Trump would immediately jump on Assad and Russia, along with the UK using this to continue to launch their attacks on Russia. But that is merely speculation and highly unlikely, however, it is important to keep an open mind whilst evidence is lacking.
