United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the U.S. to exercise “restraint” in Syria after U.S. Navy warships launched cruise missiles at an Assad regime airfield late Thursday evening.
“I was abhorred by the chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun, Syria, and the death and injury of many innocent civilians. I have long stated that there needs to be accountability for such crimes, in line with existing international norms and Security Council resolutions,” Guterres said in a statement Friday.
“I have been following reports of the airstrikes against the Shayrat Airbase in Syria conducted by the United States,” the U.N. leader said. “Mindful of the risk of escalation, I appeal for restraint to avoid any acts that could deepen the suffering of the Syrian people.”
President Trump ordered the strike on Thursday in response to President Bashar Assad’s use of a chemical agent against civilians this week. The chemical attack left dozens dead and more than 100 wounded, including children and infants.
Just one day before he ordered the missile launch, Trump had said Assad’s latest assault “crosses many, many lines,” echoing rhetoric used by President Obama in 2012.
Obama had said chemical weapons use would cross a “red line” for the U.S., beyond which military reprisal against the Syrian government would be necessary. When Assad demonstrably stepped over that line in 2013 with a sarin gas attack on Syrian civilians, the U.S. backed away from the threat of military force.
Since then, Russia has become even more involved in the protection of its ally Assad, further complicating what began as a civil conflict. Russia promised to help Assad strengthen his air capability in the hours after 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles rained down on the airfield from which Assad launched his latest chemical attack.
“These events underscore my belief that there is no other way to solve the conflict than through a political solution,” Guterres said in the UN’s response to the missile strike. “I call on the parties to urgently renew their commitment to making progress in the Geneva talks.
“A political solution also remains essential for progress in the fight against terrorism,” Guterres added.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet as soon as Friday to discuss the latest developments in Syria. Both Russia and the U.S. are members, and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley had appealed to the UNSC in general and Russia, in particular, to take action against the Assad regime this week.
“For too long, international law has been ignored in the Syrian conflict, and it is our shared duty to uphold international standards of humanity,” Guterres said. “This is a prerequisite to ending the unrelenting suffering of the people of Syria.”
