The U.S.S. Donald Cook left a port in Cyprus following reports of a poison gas attack in Syria over the weekend, prompting threats from Russia that it would shoot down any U.S. missiles and target their launch sites should President Donald Trump order military action. (Photo: Official U.S. Navy Page/Flickr/cc)
Elevating Escalation Fears, Russia Warns It Will Respond to Attack on Syria by Targeting 'Sources' of US Missiles
"If there is a strike by the Americans, then we refer to the statements of President Putin and the chief of staff that the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired," says ambassador
As President Donald Trump warned on Twitter that U.S. missiles "will be coming" in the wake of a suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma, Syria, Russian officials warned that any military action by the U.S. and its allies would be met with an aggressive response--targeting any U.S. missiles as well as their launch sites.
"If there is a strike by the Americans, then we refer to the statements of President Putin and the chief of staff that the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired," Alexander Zasypkin, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon, said Wednesday.
Though international investigators have not completed an investigation into the suspected poison gas attack that reportedly killed more than 45 people on Saturday, Trump swiftly placed the blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, joining leaders from countries including the U.K. and France who have called for "strong" action against Syria.
Zasypkin's comments came two days after the U.S.S. Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, left a port in Cyprus, carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles--the same missiles Trump launched into Syria last April after another chemical attack.
Another Russian official, Vladimir Shamanov, said only that a nuclear strike as retaliation by Russia was "unlikely," while the country's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, warned U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, that U.S. military action could place all three countries and the entire Middle East "on the threshold of some very sad and serious events."
As Russia's plans for retaliation came into view, with uncertainty regarding how severe its actions could be, some issued warnings of the repercussions of Trump's potential military action.
Experts on Russia's powerful air defenses in Syria told Business Insider that the U.S. would not easily defeat the Russian arsenal.
"If Russia were to retaliate against a US Navy ship with its own heavy navy presence in the region, the escalation would most likely resemble war between the two countries," wrote Alex Lockie at Business Insider.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just four days to go in our Spring Campaign, we are not even halfway to our goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
As President Donald Trump warned on Twitter that U.S. missiles "will be coming" in the wake of a suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma, Syria, Russian officials warned that any military action by the U.S. and its allies would be met with an aggressive response--targeting any U.S. missiles as well as their launch sites.
"If there is a strike by the Americans, then we refer to the statements of President Putin and the chief of staff that the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired," Alexander Zasypkin, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon, said Wednesday.
Though international investigators have not completed an investigation into the suspected poison gas attack that reportedly killed more than 45 people on Saturday, Trump swiftly placed the blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, joining leaders from countries including the U.K. and France who have called for "strong" action against Syria.
Zasypkin's comments came two days after the U.S.S. Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, left a port in Cyprus, carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles--the same missiles Trump launched into Syria last April after another chemical attack.
Another Russian official, Vladimir Shamanov, said only that a nuclear strike as retaliation by Russia was "unlikely," while the country's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, warned U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, that U.S. military action could place all three countries and the entire Middle East "on the threshold of some very sad and serious events."
As Russia's plans for retaliation came into view, with uncertainty regarding how severe its actions could be, some issued warnings of the repercussions of Trump's potential military action.
Experts on Russia's powerful air defenses in Syria told Business Insider that the U.S. would not easily defeat the Russian arsenal.
"If Russia were to retaliate against a US Navy ship with its own heavy navy presence in the region, the escalation would most likely resemble war between the two countries," wrote Alex Lockie at Business Insider.
As President Donald Trump warned on Twitter that U.S. missiles "will be coming" in the wake of a suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma, Syria, Russian officials warned that any military action by the U.S. and its allies would be met with an aggressive response--targeting any U.S. missiles as well as their launch sites.
"If there is a strike by the Americans, then we refer to the statements of President Putin and the chief of staff that the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired," Alexander Zasypkin, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon, said Wednesday.
Though international investigators have not completed an investigation into the suspected poison gas attack that reportedly killed more than 45 people on Saturday, Trump swiftly placed the blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, joining leaders from countries including the U.K. and France who have called for "strong" action against Syria.
Zasypkin's comments came two days after the U.S.S. Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, left a port in Cyprus, carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles--the same missiles Trump launched into Syria last April after another chemical attack.
Another Russian official, Vladimir Shamanov, said only that a nuclear strike as retaliation by Russia was "unlikely," while the country's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, warned U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, that U.S. military action could place all three countries and the entire Middle East "on the threshold of some very sad and serious events."
As Russia's plans for retaliation came into view, with uncertainty regarding how severe its actions could be, some issued warnings of the repercussions of Trump's potential military action.
Experts on Russia's powerful air defenses in Syria told Business Insider that the U.S. would not easily defeat the Russian arsenal.
"If Russia were to retaliate against a US Navy ship with its own heavy navy presence in the region, the escalation would most likely resemble war between the two countries," wrote Alex Lockie at Business Insider.