Iraqi FM warns against striking Syria, says it would be ‘foolish’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari warned against any air strikes in Syria in response to the recent suspected chemical attack in Douma, saying such “foolish” action would pose a threat to all countries in the region, including Iraq.

Jaafari’s comment came after US President Donald Trump threatened to order his administration to launch air strikes on Syria in response to the suspected poisoned gas attack which killed at least 70 people and affected 500 more.

“If you strike Syria, it is a disaster, a loss of all considerations, and a danger to all of our countries,” Jaafari told reporters in Saudi Arabia’s capital.

Jaafari made the remarks after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Thursday in Riyadh.

The Iraqi official said that Iraq's position is not in defense of the rulers in Syria but of the “children, women, elders, adults and young people.”

“We will not allow this foolishness to repeat itself,” he said, referring to possible air strikes by the US against the Syrian government. 

Jaafari's comments appear to be somewhat different from that of Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, who is trying to distance himself from the US – Russia tug of war in general, and the Iranian-Russian axis in particular, analysts say.

Trump on Wednesday warned Moscow of Washington’s response to a suspected poison gas attack in Syria, telling the superpower to “get ready” for missiles that “will be coming."

“Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!” Trump wrote on his Twitter account.

On Thursday, he told reporters at the White House that Washington would decide on possible military action against the Syrian regime “fairly soon.”

Editing by Nadia Riva