The United States, the United Kingdom, and France reaffirmed their firm resolve to respond appropriately to any use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. They said they “remain determined to hold it accountable for indiscriminately killing innocent men, women and children with these heinous weapons.”
The three countries on Friday issued a joint statement marking the second anniversary of the chemical weapon attack the Assad regime launched in the town of Khan Sheikhan in rural Idlib claiming the lives of about 100 civilians and injuring more than 400 others.
“The regime’s history of repeatedly using chemical weapons against its own people cannot be disputed, and we remain determined to hold it accountable for indiscriminately killing innocent men, women and children with these heinous weapons,” the statement said.
“The Assad regime was shielded from being held immediately accountable for its continued use of chemical weapons, in particular in the United Nations Security Council, with the dismantling of the independent investigative mechanism designed to attribute responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.”
The trio of countries went on: “Responsible states have remained committed to upholding the prohibition against chemical weapons and ensuring that there will be no impunity for those who use, seek to use, or protect those who use these weapons, in particular by strengthening the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).”
“These attacks violate international norms, have caused extreme suffering, and contributed to a worsening of the already acute humanitarian crisis in Syria.”
“Only a credible, negotiated political settlement, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, can end the conflict in Syria. The Assad regime must not repeat the use of chemical weapons in Syria. There should be no doubt as to our determination to act strongly and swiftly should the Assad regime use these weapons again in the future.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
