Elena Teslova
MOSCOW: Moscow on Wednesday warned that a risk of a direct Russia-U.S. military clash in Syria “is higher than before”, with a Russian envoy saying that U.S. missiles flying over the war-ravaged country would be shot down.
“Risk of direct Russia-U.S. military clash in Syria exists; it is higher than before the incident in Syria’s Douma,” a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told journalists in Moscow on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
“Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not [Syria’s] lawful government, which has spent several years fighting against international terrorism on its territory,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in response to Trump’s tweet on Wednesday.
She added the US may be seeking to undermine an inspection by chemical weapons experts, who are planning to investigate on the ground in Syria after the alleged attack which sparked the current confrontation between Russia and the US.
“Are the OPCW inspectors aware that smart missiles are about to destroy all evidence of the chemical weapons use on the ground? Or is that the actual plan – to cover up all evidence of this fabricated attack with smart missile strikes, so that international inspectors had no evidence to look for?” Zakharova asked.
Meanwhile, Russian Envoy to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said Russia has the right to down American missiles in Syria.
“In case of American aggression, the missiles will be downed,” Zasypkin told the Lebanese media.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped all sides would exercise restraint and avoid steps that could result in region destabilization.
“The situation is very tense. It dictates the necessity of the most intensive monitoring. We still hope that all parties will avoid any steps which can significantly destabilize the already fragile situation in the region,” he said.
In Kremlin, everyone supports an objective investigation of the incident in Syria’s Douma, he said.
The U.S. President Donald Trump, however, did not appear to give any concessions.
“Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fir-ed 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!’ Trump tweeted.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson later said Trump’s missiles could destroy evidence of the suspected chemical attack in Douma, reminding that inspectors from Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were in Syria
Russian military expert Denis Korkodinov told Ana-dolu Agency the exchange of mutual accusations between Russia and the U.S. showed that the conflict had taken an extremely dangerous turn.
The parties are finding themselves one step closer to the use of “red buttons”, Korkodinov said.
“The risk of open military confrontation between the countries is rapidly increasing. Such a situation is dangerous because at any moment a war can start, where Russia has the role of the main target,” he said.
He recalled that on March 10, 2018, Moscow brought all kinds of troops, primarily concentrated near the western and southern borders, to increased combat readiness in order to repel any acts of armed aggression. (AA)
