Syrian strike is not conflict between superpowers, Russia was warned ahead – US envoy to Moscow

The US warned Russia ahead of the overnight strikes on Syria, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said, adding that the military action was not “about the conflict between superpowers.”

“Before we took the action, the United States communicated with the Russian Federation to reduce the danger of any Russian or civilian casualties,” Huntsman said, claiming that “all the targets were linked with the Assad regime’s illegal chemical weapons program.”

Huntsman urged Moscow to “do the right thing and join the rest of the world in condemning the Assad regime,” adding that Washington was still open for “cooperation.” The diplomat once again squarely pinned the blame for the alleged chemical attack in the town of Douma on the Syrian government, citing “large amount of credible reporting” on the incident.

The US and its allies attacked Syria shortly before the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mission was expected to begin its work in the town of Douma. Both Syria and Russia welcomed the OPCW fact-finding mission to determine whether any chemical incident took place.

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