MOSCOW: Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday warned against ‘speculations and provocation’ surrounding claims that Syrian forces used chemical weapons against militants, saying that such claims should not be used as an excuse for a foreign attack on the country.
France and Britain claim the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against foreign-backed militants operating in the country.
The Russian minister said that the claims could be employed by “certain forces, who may say that the red line has been crossed and that a foreign intervention is necessary.”
Lavrov further said a more comprehensive investigation is required, noting that investigators should also explore claims of the use of chemical weapons by the militants.
The White House had previously described any use of chemical weapons in Syria as a “red line” that could trigger possible military action.
DND