French President Macron: We Have Proof Chemical Weapons Used By Assad in Syria Attack
Nous avons la preuve que des armes chimiques ont été utilisées par le régime de Bachar el-Assad. #EMacronTF1 pic.twitter.com/CaJJ19wdOp
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 12, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that his government has proof Bashar al-Assad’s regime used chemical weapons in an attack on a suburb in Syria last week.
That attack in Duma, a rebel-held town in Syria’s eastern Ghouta region, left dozens dead, including children. It prompted international condemnation and the promise of action in response from U.S. President Donald Trump and Macron.
The regime in Syria and its ally Russia have vehemently denied that the Assad regime is behind the attack, instead pinning it on rebels.
But in a wide ranging interview with French network TF1 Thursday, reported by Le Monde, Macron stated “we have proof that last week, chemical weapons were used — at least chlorine — by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.”
He added that France has been in close contact with the Trump administration in coordinating a response.
Macron stated that France has yet to determine a response to last week’s attack. He also revealed that he has had a number of calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and promised that France “would not allow for an escalation that would endanger the stability of the region.”
Meanwhile, Trump has softened his rhetoric against Russia and Syria, seeming to indicate in a tweet Thursday morning that an attack on Assad’s regime was not imminent.
Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our “Thank you America?”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2018
On Thursday, Trump warned Russia in a tweet that missiles “will be coming” to Syria:
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
[image via screengrab]
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