Israel responded to Moscow’s claim that its alleged strike on a Syrian airbase only “worsened stability” in the war-torn country.
“What is destabilizing Syria is the Iranian aggression and attempts by Iran to set up a military presence in Syria to threaten Israel and other nations,” a senior Jerusalem diplomatic source said Thursday.
Russia’s foreign ministry said Thursday that Israel’s attack on Syrian soil has only worsened the situation there.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday, when the Russian leader urged Israel not to take action in Syria or threaten its security. Israeli officials confirmed the conversation took place and that Netanyahu made clear to Putin that Israel will not permit Iran to set up a military presence in Syria.
Later on Thursday, United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis told Congress that Russia was complicit in Syria’s retention of chemical weapons.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France has proof the Syrian government was behind the suspected chemical attack last week in Douma, but added that he would decide whether or not to intervene once all the necessary information had been gathered.
“We have proof that last week… chemical weapons were used, at least chlorine, and that they were used by the regime of Bashar al-Assad,” Macron said during a television interview.
Also on Wednesday, following the call, Netanyahu threatened Iran in a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony.
“I have a message for the leaders of Iran: Don’t test Israel’s resolve,” he declared.
To the Iranian people, he said: “The regime is oppressing you and when this regime disappears off the face of the earth then our two peoples can live together once more in coexistence.”
Netanyahu also took the opportunity to condemn the Syrian regime and the recent chemical attack in Douma, saying that “murderous evil that is not stood up against spreads rapidly.”
Israel is on high alert for Iranian retaliation after Tehran’s direct threat on Tuesday, as well as any possible escalation due to a possible American strike against Syria’s Assad regime.
US President Donald Trump tweeted early Thursday morning that an American attack on Syria “could be very soon or not so soon at all.”
Trump wrote on Twitter, “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our ‘Thank you America?’”
Trump began tweeting aggressively against Syria following last Saturday’s deadly chemical attack, for which he vowed “animal Assad” would “pay a heavy price.”
An earlier tweet by Trump Wednesday said: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”
