Pars Today

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that an incident in the Syrian province of Idlib and the US missile strikes on a Syrian airbase created a threat to the process of the peace settlement in Syria.

"In recent days, the progress in all directions has been threatened as a result of the incident in Idlib followed by an US illegitimate move — a strike on military airfield of Syrian armed forces," Lavrov added, during a joint press conference with his Qatar's counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, RIA Novosti reported.

The United States carried out a missile strike on the Shayrat airfield in response to an alleged chemical attack on a militant-held town in Idlib province the blame for which Washington has immediately pinned on the Bashar al-Assad government.

Washington has failed to provide any proof that the Syrian government was behind the purported gas attack, with Damascus categorically dismissing the US accusation.

According to reports, around 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched at Shayrat military airfield in Southeast of Homs city. US military ships in the Mediterranean launched the strike on Syrian airbase, killed and wounded several civilians.

The US strike has been condemned by Tehran and Moscow, two main allies of Damascus in fight against terrorism, while the Syrian Armed Forces' General Command deplored US missile attack on Shayrat military airport, adding the move made clearer that the US is a partner of the terrorist groups of Daesh and Al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front) in the war-hit country.

EA