Russia 'shocked' by US official's call for direct attack on Syrian President

(Baonghean.vn)- On June 22, responding to the petition of 51 US diplomatic officials calling for an attack on the Syrian government, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this was a shocking call.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Photo: AP

Speaking to reporters on June 22, Ms. Zakharova said: "We are surprised and shocked by the information that officials of the US State Department have signed a letter outlining a scenario of conducting a military operation against Syrian President Assad. We are shocked because the diplomats who signed this petition should have discussed a peaceful political solution, not proposed a military attack."

Ms. Zakharova noted that if diplomats call for a war, they themselves admit the weakness of their capabilities.

“We have seen the crises in the Middle East and North Africa, and the use of force only worsens the situation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “It is important that the whole world recognizes this reality, and even the United States admits that the policy it chose in Iraq or Libya was a mistake. So why should it take another five or ten years to repeat the same mistake in Syria?”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in a stronger position than last year thanks to Russia's support against opposition factions. Photo: AP

The Russian Foreign Ministry's response came a few days after a petition by 51 US diplomats was reported by Reuters on June 16. In the petition, the US diplomats urged the Obama administration to launch a military campaign against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resolve the persistent conflict in this Middle Eastern country.

If the US agrees to attack Mr. Assad’s government directly, this will be a huge change in Washington’s policy in Syria. Up to now, President Barack Obama has advocated not directly intervening in this civil war./.

Lan Ha

(According to TASS)