The tension between the United States and Russia in Syria continues. There were a few developments today.
First, the Russians have called a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria for Friday. They may want to return to the table and try one last time to work something out with the United States.
Russia calls for emergency UN Security Council meeting, saying that "the immediate priority is to avert the danger of war" and "for the OPCW mission to reach Damascus and Douma to see what's really happened" pic.twitter.com/yv88AiV2Nd
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) April 12, 2018
Russian media has been hammering this point almost as if getting the Americans to come back to the UN was a victory itself. But the US has said little about the meeting other than Ambassador Nikki Haley visited the White House to prep for tomorrow’s meeting.
UN Ambassador @nikkihaley leaves WH pic.twitter.com/4G6W8i4EQZ
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) April 12, 2018
Ambassador Haley gave a small wink to her Russian counterparts on her personal social media.
“The United States and our allies will continue to stand up for truth, accountability, justice and an end to the use of chemical weapons for the Syrian people.” pic.twitter.com/IpZxDCqOn7
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) April 12, 2018
Russia’s weak position in Syria is starting to come into focus for the global community to see because they can’t force the Israelis or Turks to budge and they can’t control Bashar Al Assad, Iran, or their mercenaries. And forget about standing the Americans down. This likely made Mike Pompeo confirming that American Special Forces did, in fact, kill a couple of hundred mercenaries all that more difficult to hear.
File under: Russians are not in fact 10 feet tall https://t.co/ODRlfBM7pc
— Jennifer Cafarella (@JennyCafarella) April 12, 2018
The White House has selected to target signal their intentions, which is exactly what President Obama was so harshly criticized over.
According to #Trump admin sources, the U.S. is considering hitting 8 targets in #Syria, including:
– x2 airbases
– x1 chemical weapons facility
– x1 military-scientific research facility(Via @CNBC)
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) April 12, 2018
Turkey has been working back channels to get Moscow and D.C. to find common ground with considerable frustration. While Iran and their proxy Hezbollah have pulled west closer to Damascus and away from a clearly irritated American fighting force.
Several local sources report that both the regime and Hezbollah evacuated weapons and some personnel from the Qamishli airport to Damascus #Syria
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) April 12, 2018
Meetings will continue tomorrow in the White House while discussions between Moscow and the Turks should resume in the next few hours.
Discussions will continue tomorrow.
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) April 12, 2018
Strikes are not expected tonight, but RedState will update if necessary and continue coverage.
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