Putin: Syrian government not responsible for Idlib chemical attack

MOSCOW, Russia (Kurdistan24) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the Syrian government’s forces had no role in the April chemical attacks in Idlib Province.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, President Putin suggested the incident was a pretext for the West to pursue applying pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

“According to our information, there is no proof that chemical weapons were used by Assad,” he stated.

“We are convinced that he did not do it,” Putin added.

The Russian leader’s remarks followed new French President Emmanuel Macron’s criticism of the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons in the country.

Over 80 people, including children, were killed in the town of Khan Shaykun in a chemical attack on April 4.

Putin insisted Moscow had offered to arrange inspections of the area where the incident occurred, but major powers rejected the proposal.

Responding to the chemical raid, US President Donald Trump ordered 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles to target the Shayrat airfield from where the attack was reportedly launched.

In an interview with AFP following the US strike, Assad insisted Washington had “made up” the chemical assault to justify their military intervention in Syria.

“They fabricated the whole story to have a pretext for the attack,” he stated.

Despite accusations from international powers, Assad maintained his regime had turned over all their chemical weapons “years ago.”

In the aftermath of the attack, Russia blamed rebel fighters for the fatal incident, claiming a routine Syrian regime strike hit a rebel arms depot containing “toxic substances.”

Editing by G. H. Renaud