Washington "collective military response" potential targets for regime's positions

Washington "collective military response" potential targets for regime's positions
Washington is considering a collective military response to a suspected chemical attack on Duma city, while several experts have listed key facilities as potential targets, a US official said

NEWS DESK

US President Donald Trump pledged a strong response on Monday, saying the decision would be taken quickly in the wake of a suspected attack late on Saturday in Duma the Syrian city that killed at least 60 people and wounded more than 100.

US officials told Reuters that military options to respond to the chemical attack were under preparation.

While the White House, Pentagon and State Department refused to comment on specific options or whether military action was possible.

Experts expected retaliation strikes, if any, to focus on facilities linked to earlier reports of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

They referred to possible strikes on bases including al-Demier the air base, where the Syrian Mi-8 helicopters, which are connected to the social media, are located in Duma.

Diplomats said on Monday that US Ambassador to United Nations Nicky Healy had expressed the wish that UN Security Council vote on Tuesday on a US draft resolution on opening a new investigation to determine who is responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The 15 members of Security Council circulated a revised draft resolution, first introduced on March 1, amid a warning from President Donald Trump that a "heavy price would pay" for a suspected chemical gas attack on Duma town on Saturday.

Reuters quoted diplomats as saying that UN Security Council was considering the possibility of presenting a US proposal to form a "mechanism of independent investigation of United Nations" on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, to vote today, despite opposition from Russia, which may use the veto to prevent adoption.

United States insists on the draft resolution amid tense tension linked to possible US military action in Syria, with Trump asserting that "major decisions" will be made within 48 hours.

"As we hear now, I am afraid that they will be seeking a military option that would be very dangerous," Russian Ambassador to United Nations Vasily Nibenzia told reporters after the emergency meeting of UN Security Council.

A French government spokesman said that "if the red line is crossed" in Syria, there will be a "response." The information exchanged by French President Imanuel Macaron and his US counterpart Donald Trump "confirms in principle the use of chemical weapons."

United States fired rockets at the air al-Sayierat base a year ago in response to the deaths of dozens of civilians in sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikun town in Idlib and warned United States of Russia ahead of those strikes, in order to avoid the killing of Russian troops

(H/S)

ANHA