Russia Slams U.S.-led Strikes on Syria, Says Country Had 'Chance for Peaceful Future'
Russia's foreign ministry said today that Western strikes on Syria came as the country had "a chance of a peaceful future."
Moscow: Russia's foreign ministry said today that Western strikes on Syria came as the country had "a chance of a peaceful future." the Russian government's response came after U.S., UK and France launched precision strikes on Syrian chemical research and storage facilities in the capital city of Damascus.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook: "those behind all this claim moral leadership in the world and declare they are exceptional. You need to be really exceptional to shell Syria's capital at the moment when it had gained a chance of a peaceful future."
Huge blasts were reported around Damascus early today, moments after the US, France, and Britain announced they were striking Syria's chemical weapons capabilities. The joint operation came one week after a suspected chemical attack outside Damascus left more than 40 people dead.
Zakharova suggested that Western media bore some responsibility for the strikes, claiming the White House cited "multiple media sources" on the suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma. "American and other Western media must understand their responsibility for what happened," Zakharova wrote.
Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the U.S, issued a statement on Facebook in response to the strikes on Syria. He accused the West of carrying out a "pre-designed scenario." He said there would be "consequences," and the responsibility for them lies with Washington, London and Paris.
Antonov added: "Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible," and said that the US "has no moral right to blame other countries" since it possesses a large arsenal of chemical weapons of its own. (With Agency inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2018 09:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).