President Trump softens tone on potential military strike on Syria
- 6 years ago
President Trump has softened his rhetoric on a possible U.S. military assault on Syria, a day after he warned its key ally Russia that "missiles will be coming."
Fears of confrontation between Russia and the West have been running high, after Washington blasted Moscow for supporting Damascus in a suspected chemical attack.
Ro Aram reports
Wednesday's tweets saw President Trump take a more aggressive tone towards Syria and Russia for a suspected chemical attack in a rebel-held area.
He said missiles will be coming in response to the alleged attack, but on Thursday he seemed to be backtracking from those remarks.
He tweeted that he "never said an attack on Syria would take place", adding it could happen "soon or not soon at all."
He also held a meeting with his national security team later in the day, but the White House said no final decision has been made.
President Trump was due to announce sometime Thursday Washington's response to the suspected attack - evidence of which is yet to be unveiled.
U.S. media have quoted Washington officials as saying that a mix of weaponized chlorine gas and sarin may have been used.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said he has proof that the Syrian government attacked civilians in Douma, but did not provide further details.
France and the UK have said they will back the U.S. if any military action is taken against Syria.
Syria and Russia have repeatedly denied such an attack took place.
After an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Moscow's UN envoy said the U.S. was threatening international peace.
"The threat to international peace or security and security is a violation of the U.N. charter….. the immediate priority is to avert the danger of war…. But the second priority now is for the OPCW mission to reach Damascus and Douma and to see what's really happened."
A team of experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was traveling to Syria and will start their investigations on Saturday.
It is not yet clear whether Washington and its allies would wait for the results of the OPCW's probe before deciding on a possible strike.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.
Fears of confrontation between Russia and the West have been running high, after Washington blasted Moscow for supporting Damascus in a suspected chemical attack.
Ro Aram reports
Wednesday's tweets saw President Trump take a more aggressive tone towards Syria and Russia for a suspected chemical attack in a rebel-held area.
He said missiles will be coming in response to the alleged attack, but on Thursday he seemed to be backtracking from those remarks.
He tweeted that he "never said an attack on Syria would take place", adding it could happen "soon or not soon at all."
He also held a meeting with his national security team later in the day, but the White House said no final decision has been made.
President Trump was due to announce sometime Thursday Washington's response to the suspected attack - evidence of which is yet to be unveiled.
U.S. media have quoted Washington officials as saying that a mix of weaponized chlorine gas and sarin may have been used.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said he has proof that the Syrian government attacked civilians in Douma, but did not provide further details.
France and the UK have said they will back the U.S. if any military action is taken against Syria.
Syria and Russia have repeatedly denied such an attack took place.
After an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Moscow's UN envoy said the U.S. was threatening international peace.
"The threat to international peace or security and security is a violation of the U.N. charter….. the immediate priority is to avert the danger of war…. But the second priority now is for the OPCW mission to reach Damascus and Douma and to see what's really happened."
A team of experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was traveling to Syria and will start their investigations on Saturday.
It is not yet clear whether Washington and its allies would wait for the results of the OPCW's probe before deciding on a possible strike.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.