Syria rejects US accusations of new chemical weapons attack

The Syrian government on Tuesday rejected allegations from the United States that Bashar al-Assad’s regime was preparing another chemical weapons attack.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian government on Tuesday rejected allegations from the United States that Bashar al-Assad’s regime was preparing another chemical weapons attack.

Ali Haider, the minister for national reconciliation in the Syrian government, predicted a “diplomatic battle” between Washington and Syria amid the US’ accusations.

On Monday night, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US had “identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime.”

Spicer added such an attack would “likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children.”

The White House Press Secretary stated the preparations they identified were similar to a chemical weapons attack in the town of Khan Shaykun in Syria’s Idlib Province on April 4.

The chemical assault claimed the lives of at least 90 people including women and children.

Following the attack, US President Donald Trump ordered air strikes on a Syrian airbase where the chemical raids were reportedly launched from.

“[If] Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price,” Spicer warned.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin—an ally of Assad—said Washington’s comments were “unacceptable.”

“I am not aware of any information about a threat that chemical weapons can be used,” the Associated Press quoted him.

“Certainly, we consider such threats to the legitimate leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic unacceptable,” he added.

In the aftermath of the Idlib attack, Russia notably blamed rebel fighters for the fatal incident, upholding the Assad regime’s innocence.