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Syria Will Defend Itself Against Any U.S.-Led Attack -Foreign Minister

Syria Will Defend Itself Against Any U.S.-Led Attack -Foreign Minister
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Τρι, 27 Αυγούστου 2013 - 16:52
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al Moallem said Tuesday that his country will defend itself against any military attack led by the U.S. while challenging Western countries to provide evidence that his government used chemical weapons in a recent attack outside the capital Damascus.
Syria 's Foreign Minister Walid al Moallem said Tuesday that his country will defend itself against any military attack led by the U.S. while challenging Western countries to provide evidence that his government used chemical weapons in a recent attack outside the capital Damascus .

Mr. al Moallem said his country would defend itself by "all means available" and that Damascus 's ability to defend itself will "surprise" any country that tries to attack it, in a press conference aired on state TV. After his remarks, state TV played videos of the Syrian army defending civilians to the backdrop of patriotic songs.

The foreign minister went on to reject "utterly and completely" accusations that his government used chemical weapons or toxins against its population while accusing the U.S. of flouting international law and an ongoing United Nations investigation into the incident.

A U.N. inspections team is currently in Damascus investigating the latest accusations of chemical weapons attacks that hit several towns on the capital's outskirts last Wednesday, which rebels claim killed over a 1,000 people, including children and women. On Monday, the U.N. was granted access to one of those sites, Mouadhamiya, to conduct interviews with survivors and take soil samples, although their convoy was fired on by unknown snipers earlier that day.

Mr. al Moallem said a second trip planned by the U.N. team was canceled Tuesday after a disagreement by rebels over how to provide security to the international inspectors. The U.N. said in a statement that its team decided to postpone its visit by "one day in order to improve preparedness and safety for the team," but did not speak to Mr. al Moallem's claims.

Earlier Tuesday Syria 's state news agency accused the U.S. of ignoring the current U.N. investigation into whether chemical weapons were used last week just outside Damascus . The state news agency then accused Secretary of State John Kerry of lying about the U.S. obtaining "undeniable" evidence chemical weapons were used, remarks that signaled the U.S. was inching closer to a military attack.

On Monday, Mr. Kerry issued the strongest rebuke yet to the Syrian government by Washington .

Accusing the Syrian government of "the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians" Mr. Kerry added that "President [Barack] Obama believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world's most heinous weapons."

The U.S. is currently examining ways to attack Syria without the approval of the U.N., where Russia would likely veto any military action, U.S. and European officials have said. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has recently stepped up contacts with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Arab League about supporting a military operation against Damascus . The U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet has four warships in the eastern Mediterranean equipped with Tomahawk missiles and other weapons systems that can strike Syria , Navy officials have said. The warships are being kept a "healthy distance from the coast" as a precaution against Syria 's advanced Russian-made coastal defenses, a senior defense official said.

But Mr. al Moallem's remarks also appeared to be a warning to Syria 's neighbors ahead of an Arab League meeting later Tuesday. The League will likely address whether or not they will embrace military actions against Damascus .

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been particularly hawkish on the Syrian crisis, but the Arab League will likely see some pushback from Lebanon , as Hezbollah remains a crucial ally to President Bashar al Assad. Egypt has also said it rejects any military action against Damascus , but that stance may change if regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia applies enough pressure on Cairo , which is saddled by debt and recently received a $7 billion aid package from Riyadh .

Mr. al Moallem took a jab at Syria 's neighbor Jordan, which hosted on Sunday military leaders from the U.S. , U.K. , France and Arab countries, to jointly examine what military options are available to strike Syria .

Jordan's security is "linked" to Syria's, the foreign minister said, adding that any military action would only benefit Israel and Islamic extremist groups that have emerged in Syria and will threaten the entire region.

Jordan 's government earlier Tuesday said it would not be a launching pad for any attack against Syria , according to local news reports. The country echoed the same sentiments ahead of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, but later hosted major American military bases in Jordan that were crucial to that military operation.

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