DAMASCUS – Missile strikes of the United States, France and British onSyria have drawn a conflicting response from allies and foes of the Syriangovernment.
European Council President Donald Tusk said the European Union stands bythe United States, France and Britain over their air strikes after allegedchemical attacks by the Damascus regime.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also supported the US, French and Britishmissile strikes, saying that military intervention was necessary andappropriate.
Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement welcomed the strikes as anappropriate response to the suspected chemical attack.
However, Russia severely condemned the attack and said it is calling foremergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the missile strikes.
In his reaction to the missile strikes, the UN Secretary-General AntonioGuterres urged all countries to act consistently with the UN Charter andinternational law.
He called on all member states of the UN Security Council to show restraintin these dangerous circumstances and avoid any acts that can escalate thesituation and worsen suffering of Syrian people.
Criticizing the United States and its allies for launching the missilestrikes despite absence of any proven evidence regarding the use ofchemical weapons by Syrian government, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Americaand its allies will assume responsibility for the regional andtrans-regional consequences of this adventurism.
Jordan said only a political solution would guarantee stability andterritorial integrity of Syria while continued violence will lead to moreviolence, conflict, fighting and displacement whose victims would be Syrianpeople.
Several European leaders, including Belgian, Spanish, Czech and ItalianPrime Ministers have issued statements in support of the Western missilestrikes on Syria.
China has urged the relevant parties to return to the framework ofinternational law and resolve the Syria issue through dialogue andnegotiation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said any unilateral military action,bypassing the Security Council, runs contrary to the purpose and principlesof the UN Charter and violates the principles of international law andbasic norms governing international relations. APP/AFP