Crisis in Syria further worsens

Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
The civil war in Syria which begun in 2011 following failed Arab Spring revolution has caused further tense situation between western countries led by the United States and Russian Federation following firing of 59 Tomahawk missiles on 6 April by the United States at Syrian airbase in Idlib. This Syrian air base is understood being used for chemical weapons in Northern town of Khan Sheikhoum in Idlib killing at least 80 people and injuring hundreds. President Donald Trump warned that it may take further action if necessary. Meanwhile, US led coalition hit west of Raqqa in Syria killing 15 civilians.
The sudden missiles strike after the visit of King of Jordan Abdullah has caused mixed reaction around the world. Both France and Great Britain welcomed, apart from Israel, but President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin described missile strike violated international law while officially Russian Federation holds the opinion that US military action was “illegitimate and encouraged terrorists.” Another veto power in the Security council: China remains non-committal. On the other hand, President Bashar-al-Assad’s office in a statement said the “US naively followed a false and lying propaganda campaign that led it to carry out this irresponsible and recklessness.” Russian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called for urgent security council meeting over the airstrike.
The sudden use of cruise missiles against Syrian air base by President Donald Trump could be interpreted that the President is action – oriented as against his predecessor Barack Obama who deviated from his commitment to take action against President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria when he crossed Obama’s red line by using chemical weapons against his own people in 2012.
President Obama did not take action against Syrian President when he crossed red line by using chemical weapons against his own people in 2013. That was his greatest mistake in conducting foreign policy. US’s inaction at that time enhanced Bashar-al-Assad to gain upper hand in 6 year old civil war in collaboration with allies Russia, Iran and Hezbollah militant group of Lebanon. On the other hand, he succumbed to pressure from Russian Federation to dismantle stockpile of chemical weapons from Syria. In September of 2013 a deal was struck between US and Russia under which Syria gave a manifest of its chemical weapons and facilities to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The organization declared by the end of 2014 all of Syrian declared facilities and weapons were destroyed. However, according to Inspectors of this Organization declared three facilities in Syria were not destroyed due to instability in Syria.
Director of National Intelligence of Obama administration testified to US Senate Armed Services Committee in February of 2016 that Syria did not declare its entire chemical weapons program to Inspectors of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons while International monitors continue to receive reports of chemical attacks throughout 2016. On 12 January of 2017 US Treasury Department unveiled sanctions against Syrian military, security and research officials accusing of being connected to Syrian chemical weapon’s program.
President Donald Trump could possibly acted against Syria to prove that he is not a fan of President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation as has been speculated for a long time since election campaign had begun in US last year for presidency. As of now there is no comprehensive strategic plan against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad as can be seen from contradictory statements by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nicki Haley who is on record saying” US does not see a peaceful resolution for Syrian civil war as long as Bashar Al-Assad remains in power “whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson emphasized that priority of the United States is “to defeat Islamic State in Syria”.
On another occasion Secretary of State said “Syrian President fate would be decided by Syrian people.” Defense Secretary of the United States Retired Gen. Mattis at press conference on 11 April echoed of Secretary of State by saying main goal in Syria was to defeat Daesh( ISIS) and reiterated that there was no doubt of involvement of Syria in carrying out chemical weapons in Idlib.
Meanwhile, G-7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy on 10 April called on Russia to change its attitude towards Bashar-al-Assad of Syria “ending brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and further frayed relations between the West and “.G7 Foreign Ministers, however, did not approve further economic sanctions against Russia. The meeting also agreed that no solution in war torn Syria was possible with President Bashar al-Assad in power. The meeting also called for an investigation by Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons to determine who was responsible for this war crime.
Both France, Britain and US submitted resolution in the Security Council requesting UN to conduct an investigation on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Idlib of Syria but the White House on 11 April released a report on chemical attack in Idlib of Syria before investigation is conducted. Russia, meanwhile, vetoed the resolution on 12 April along with Bolivia and criticized OPCW to testify using chemical weapons without visiting place of occurrence. The veto by Russia turns out to be eight times in Security Council, a close ally of Syria which triggers deep division with western countries.
It is also interesting to note while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to Moscow for discussion on the situation in Syria in view of the” war torn Syria had fundamentally changed following a chemical weapons attack on civilians and US air strike targeting a military airfield “while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow to have tete-e-tete with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to clarify areas of sharp differences between US and Russia in connection with Syria. As of now two sides locked in hornet’s net over alleged chemical attack in Idlib of Syria. It is hoped that meeting between two Foreign Ministers of nuclear powers would normalize tense situation in the Middle East. US Secretary of State has had closed door tete-e-tet with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin but relations still remained tense.
Six year civil war in Syria cost by now lives of hundreds of thousands people while several thousands flee from war torn Syria for safety but many people strapped in war torn Syria without food, medicine and water. There is a need for diplomatic solution of the crisis in Syria.

(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat of Bangladesh, writes from Virginia)