Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria
Press Statement
Rex W. Tillerson
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 4, 2017
The United States strongly condemns the
chemical weapons attack in Idlib province, the third allegation of the use of
such weapons in the past month alone. There are reports of dozens dead,
including many children. While we continue to monitor the terrible situation,
it is clear that this is how Bashar al-Assad operates: with brutal, unabashed
barbarism. Those who defend and support him, including Russia and Iran, should
have no illusions about Assad or his intentions. Anyone who uses chemical
weapons to attack his own people shows a fundamental disregard for human
decency and must be held accountable.
It is also clear that this horrific
conflict, now in its seventh year, demands a genuine ceasefire and the
supporters of the armed combatants in the region need to ensure compliance. We
call upon Russia and Iran, yet again, to exercise their influence over the
Syrian regime and to guarantee that this sort of horrific attack never happens
again. As the self-proclaimed guarantors to the ceasefire negotiated in Astana,
Russia and Iran also bear great moral responsibility for these deaths.
