The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is not mincing words and calling out Russia for its role in Saturday's chemical attack on the rebel-held Syrian city of Douma which killed dozens of Syrian citizens.
"The Russian regime, whose hands are all covered in the blood of Syrian children, cannot be ashamed by pictures of its victims," Haley said during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday.
"We must not overlook Russia and Iran's roles in enabling the Assad regime's murderous destruction," she continued.
(...)
The Syrian government and the Kremlin have denied involvement in the attack.
Russian envoy to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday the attack was staged, and that any U.S. military response could have "grave repercussions."
"There was no chemical weapons attack," Nebenzia told the Security Council.
“Russia is being unpardonably threatened," he said. “The boorishness against my country is unacceptable and exceeds Cold War standards."
President Trump mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin by name in a Sunday morning tweet condemning the attack, marking the first time he has been willing to say something negative about the Russian leader.
Asked at a Cabinet meeting earlier on Monday if Russian President Vladimir Putin bore any responsibility for the attack, Trump said: “He may, yeah, he may. And if he does, it’s going to be very tough, very tough.”
Trump says he will make a decision soon on how the U.S. will respond.
Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday did not rule out military action against Syria.
“The first thing we have to look at is why are chemical weapons still being used at all when Russia was the framework guarantor of removing all the chemical weapons,” Mattis said.
Haley: Russian hands 'covered in blood' from Syria attack (The Hill)
Trump vows quick action on 'barbaric' Syria chemical attack (Reuters)