NEW YORK – The United Nations secretary-general on Friday warned against a”full-blown military escalation” in Syria, as France and the United Statessaid an alleged chemical attack must not go unanswered.

Russia warned the West not to make any “dangerous” moves against its allyBashar al-Assad s regime and claimed to have proof that the attack had beenstaged by rescue workers acting on Britain s behalf.

Experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW) are on their way to Syria to probe the alleged chlorine strike onthe then rebel-held suburb of Douma, which took place nearly a week ago.

But, with the British government now estimating that the death toll fromthe attack has risen to 75, US President Donald Trump and other westernleaders are contemplating punitive military action.

This would increase the risk of a clash with the Russian forces in Syria todefend Assad, and UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council tobeware a “full-blown military escalation.”

But France s UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the council that inchoosing once again to use banned chemical weapons against civilians,Assad s regime had “reached a point of no-return.”

And US ambassador Nikki Haley, while allowing that Washington is stillweighing its options and pursuing its own investigation, warned hercolleagues, “At one point, you have to do something.”

Russia, in addition to tossing out unproven allegations against Britain,alleged the West was feigning outrage over the attack as a cover for a planto overthrow Assad s government.

“We continue to observe dangerous military preparations for an illegal actof force against a sovereign state,” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenziatold the Security Council.

* Missiles are coming … or are they?*

Tension between Russia and the West came amid signs the parallel conflictbetween Israel and Iran s forces and proxies in Syria is also on the pointof escalation.

Earlier this week, Israel bombed a Syrian airbase used by Assad s regionalallies, killing at least seven Iranians, and prompting threats from Tehranand its Lebanese militia ally Hezbollah.

“The Israelis carried out a historic mistake … and put themselves indirect combat with Iran,” Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned onFriday in a televised address.

But the growing fears of escalation appear to have given western leadersfood for thought.

After warning in a belligerent tweet earlier this week that “missiles arecoming,” Trump has backed off from talk of imminent action and is meetingwith military commanders to look at options.

France s President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, on Friday called forstepped-up talks with Moscow and spoke to President Vladimir Putin by phone.

“The most important thing is to refrain from ill-considered and dangerousactions that would constitute a gross violation of the UN Charter and wouldhave unpredictable consequences,” the Kremlin said.

*French proof *

Macron claimed in a TV interview Thursday that he had “proof” that Assad sregime had used chemical weapons and vowed a response “in due course.”

But he also appeared anxious to avoid a wider conflict, saying France would”in no way allow an escalation.”

Western officials believe chlorine was used in the April 7 attack on Douma,the main city in the former rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta.

What is less clear is whether sarin, the agent used in a chemical attackthat prompted US missile strikes last year, was also used.

Russia, which has stonewalled diplomatic efforts at the UN SecurityCouncil, has vehemently denied a chemical attack took place.

OPCW inspectors are expected to arrive in Syria at the weekend toinvestigate, following an invitation from Damascus.

Diplomats have expressed concern that the experts could be used as hostagesor human shields.

*Rebels give up Ghouta*

Since last weekend, when images of ashen toddlers struggling for breathemerged, there has been a sustained military buildup in the easternMediterranean.

A French frigate, British Royal Navy submarines and the USS Donald Cook, anAmerican destroyer equipped with Tomahawk land attack missiles, have allmoved into range of Syria s coast.

US officials have refused to rule out direct military engagement withRussia.

On the ground, rebels and civilians were evacuating from Douma on Fridayafter anti-regime fighters in Eastern Ghouta surrendered their heavyweapons and their leader left the enclave.

This signalled the end of one of the bloodiest assaults of the seven-yearwar and a major win for the Assad regime. – APP /AFP