US may act against Syria's chemical weapons if UNSC doesn't: Amb. Haley

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. April 5, 2017, 7:40 PM (IDT)

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Wednesday during an emergency Security Council meeting that Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack in Syria was a “new low even for the barbaric Assad regime”. She said it demonstrated that humanity means nothing to the Syrian government and that it was the latest example of the atrocities committed by Assad against his people. If the council is not prepared to act now, it will keep meeting month after month on the same issue, Haley said. The ambassador hinted at possible unilateral steps by the US, saying that when UN fails to act collectively there are times when countries are compelled to take action themselves. 
In addition, Haley criticized Moscow over its continued support of Damascus, saying Russia made an “unconscionable choice” to close its eyes to the barbarity and had shielded Assad from UN sanctions. She said the world needs to see Russia use its influence in Syria and put an end to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons, asserting that if Moscow fulfilled its responsibilities the Syrian leader would not have any chemical weapons to use. Assad, Russia and Iran have no interest in peace, she said.
Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with visiting Jordanian King Abdullah, President Donald Trump was asked what he will do about the gas atrocity. He answered “You’ll see”.

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