UN Security Council rejects Russian-drafted resolution condemning Syria strikes

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Saturday failed to adopt a resolution drafted by Russia calling for a condemnation of overnight airstrikes against the Syrian regime.

The draft labeled the strikes as an “aggression” and violation of international law and the UN charter, and demanded military action to end “immediately and without delay.”

After statements from members of the UNSC, including Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, the draft was voted on but failed to receive enough yes votes (3-8-4).

Only Russia, China, and Bolivia voted for the draft resolution while eight countries voted against, and four abstained.

A resolution requires nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain, or the United States before it is adopted.

Before the vote, Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the UN, said her country “is locked and loaded” to strike Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime again if they continue to use chemical weapons.

“When our President draws a red line, our President enforces the red,” she said. “The United States of America will not allow the Assad regime to continue using chemical weapons.”

On Friday night, the US, the UK, and France launched “precision strikes” at targets blamed for producing and using banned chemical weapons in retaliation for the April 7 attack by the Assad regime on eastern Ghouta that killed dozens of people.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said Russia’s continued use of its veto left the US and its allies the UK and France with no other option but a military one to prevent further chemical attacks by Assad’s regime.

“Before the attack took place last night, NATO allies exhausted all other possible ways to address this issue to the UNSC by diplomatic and political means,” he said at a debriefing of ambassadors on Saturday, adding all 29 members in the alliance supported the strikes.