Russia calls any military intervention in Syria unacceptable
Military intervention under fictitious pretexts in Syria, where Russian soldiers are stationed, is unacceptable. A statement to this effect was made by the Russian Foreign Ministry and published on the department’s website.
The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the Russians are in Syria at the request of the country’s legitimate government. Outside interference, the department said, is absolutely inadmissible, and “may lead to the most severe consequences”.
“The spread of information that chlorine and other toxic substances were used by government forces continues,” the department stated, commenting on reports of a chemical attack in Duma which appeared on April 7. The Foreign Ministry noted that the information comes from the White Helmets humanitarian organization, which has been caught on multiple occasions for violations, and found to be connected to terrorists, and from advocacy organizations based in the US and UK.
On April 8, General-Major Yuriy Yevtushenko, head of Russia’s Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said that the statements on the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian forces aim to disrupt the withdrawal of Jaysh al-Islam militants from the city of Duma. He added that this is “one of the West’s favorite topics”.
Earlier SANA reported that the Syrian state army had renewed the attack on the final hotbed of Syrian opposition resistance in Eastern Ghouta – the city of Duma. Reuters reported with reference to the rebels that the Syrian forces had bombed the civilians with chemical weapons. Human rights advocates reported the deaths of 11 people.