روما بت
ماه بت
پین باهیس
بهترین سایت شرط بندی
بت کارت
یاس بت
یک بت
مگاپاری
اونجا بت
alvinbet.org
بت برو
بت فا
بت فوروارد
وان ایکس بت
1win giriş
بت وینر
بهترین سایت شرط بندی ایرانی
1xbet giriş
وان کیک بت
وین بت
ریتزو بت
1xbet-ir.com.co/
https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/paperiounblocked2?lang=EN https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/agariounblockedschool1?lang=EN https://yohoho-io.app/ https://2.yohoho-io.net/paper.io unblocked https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/yohoho-unblocked-76?lang=EN https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/agariounblockedpvp https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/yohoho?lang=EN
HomeNewsBolton Again Warns Assad “We Will Respond” If Chemical Weapons Used in...

Bolton Again Warns Assad “We Will Respond” If Chemical Weapons Used in Idlib Offensive

Published on

Here we go again. Did Bolton just give jihadists facing imminent final defeat under Assad and Russian bombs an open door invitation to initiate a chemical provocation?

As CNN and others warned this week that Syrian and Russian forces are closing in on the “last rebel stronghold” in Syria in the country’s northwest pocket of Idlib province, US National Security Advisor put Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on notice, saying the United States would respond “very strongly” if pro-government forces use chemical weapons in their campaign to retake Idlib.

Bolton spoke at a press conference Wednesday while in Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli officials.

“We now see plans for the Syrian regime to resume offensive military activities in Idlib province,” he said“We are obviously concerned about the possibility that Assad may use chemical weapons again.”

Bolton warned, “Just so there’s no confusion here, if the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons we will respond very strongly and they really ought to think about this a long time.” 

This month Syrian and Russian air attacks and shelling began targeting al-Qaeda held Idlib in what is likely a prelude to a full-scale ground offensive.

The “rebel” coalition in control of this major “final holdout” is but the latest incarnation of al-Qaeda, calling itself Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and has held the province, the capital city of which is Idlib city, since a successful Western and Gulf ally sponsored attack on the area in 2015.

During Bolton’s comments before reporters in Jerusalem, he appeared to boast about prior US airstrikes on Syrian government forces, referencing Tomahawk missile strikes over the past two Aprils — the first of which was in response to sarin gas attack claims made by HTS and the White Helmets in Khan Sheikhoun, which is in Idlib.

Till this day the international chemical investigative body and watchdog, the OPCW, has yet to visit the site due to its being controlled by al-Qaeda forces.

At the time, as in other cases like Douma in April 2018, the White House simply relied on the word of both HTS and the White Helmets, who produced social media videos purporting to show the aftermath of an alleged chemical attack.

Considering the al-Qaeda and Islamist coalition in Idlib is now facing imminent total annihilation in the face of overwhelming Syrian Army and Russian air power, it is highly likely that jihadist insurgents and their partners like the White Helmets are already in the process of preparing for some kind of claimed “chemical event”.

Indeed, Bolton’s words on Wednesday of “we will respond very strongly” positively invites just such a scenario.

This is the clearly observable pattern that seems to repeat both whenever the administration announces it is content with Assad  staying in power and seemingly every time the Syrian Army is on a trajectory of overwhelming victory: an ill-timed and strategically nonsensical mass chemical attack on civilians supposedly ordered by Assad — inevitably giving the West an open door for military intervention, new rounds of crippling sanctions, and yet more international media condemnation heaped on Damascus.

Bolton is currently in Israel to discuss the key issues of Iran and Syria, and further addressed Iran during the press conference. While he noted that “Regime change in Iran is not American policy but what we want is massive change in the regime’s behavior,” he also said the US supports Israel’s recent attacks on Iranian targets within Syria.

“Every time that Iran has brought missiles or other threatening weapons into Syria in recent months Israel has struck those targets,” Bolton said, and added, “I think that’s a legitimate act of self-defense on the part of Israel.”

The other observable pattern on the seven-year long conflict in Syria is this: every time the war seems to have receded from international media attention, with the momentum clearly being with Assad and the Syrian Army, a mass attention-grabbing event or massacre happens to yank the world’s (and the White House’s) focus right back on Damascus.

Top Photo | John Bolton listens to question as speaks to the media after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. Bolton said Sunday, July 1, the U.S. has a plan that would lead to the dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs in a year. Alexander Zemlianichenko | AP

© ZeroHedge

The post Bolton Again Warns Assad “We Will Respond” If Chemical Weapons Used in Idlib Offensive appeared first on MintPress News.

Latest articles

Trump’s cuts, politicians’ inactions kill in the Hill Country

Houston The Texas Hill Country is known for beautiful rolling hills, hundreds of wineries, scrumptious peaches, and tubing down the Guadalupe River.   On the 4th of July, life along the river was forever changed. Rain began early that morning with a report that the river had risen 7 feet. Four hours later it was a…

What Central Texas and Gaza have in common

Home » Editorials » What Central Texas and Gaza have in common Since the flash floods erupted during the July 4 weekend in Central Texas, the official death count is 129 people, including 36 children. Hundreds more are still missing. Most of the deaths occurred in Kerr County, not far from San Antonio along the…

Union picket line defends LGBTQIA2S+ youth, hotline workers

Home » Disability rights » Union picket line defends LGBTQIA2S+ youth, hotline workers New York City Communication Workers of America Local 1180 held a spirited picket line on July 12 to protest the Trump administration’s announced dismantling of the 988 “Option 3” crisis hotline for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. The picket line, held outside Trump Towers in…

Haitian migrants protest removal of TPS

Home » Human needs before profits » Haitian migrants protest removal of TPS The U.S. government first granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians living in the United States after a 2010 earthquake in Haiti that led to the deaths of over 300,000 Haitians and the homelessness of a million. TPS allows Haitians or other…

More like this

Trump’s cuts, politicians’ inactions kill in the Hill Country

Houston The Texas Hill Country is known for beautiful rolling hills, hundreds of wineries, scrumptious peaches, and tubing down the Guadalupe River.   On the 4th of July, life along the river was forever changed. Rain began early that morning with a report that the river had risen 7 feet. Four hours later it was a…

What Central Texas and Gaza have in common

Home » Editorials » What Central Texas and Gaza have in common Since the flash floods erupted during the July 4 weekend in Central Texas, the official death count is 129 people, including 36 children. Hundreds more are still missing. Most of the deaths occurred in Kerr County, not far from San Antonio along the…

Union picket line defends LGBTQIA2S+ youth, hotline workers

Home » Disability rights » Union picket line defends LGBTQIA2S+ youth, hotline workers New York City Communication Workers of America Local 1180 held a spirited picket line on July 12 to protest the Trump administration’s announced dismantling of the 988 “Option 3” crisis hotline for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. The picket line, held outside Trump Towers in…