Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya voted against a bid to renew an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Reuters
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya voted against a bid to renew an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Reuters
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya voted against a bid to renew an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Reuters
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya voted against a bid to renew an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Reuters

World

US

US calls on Moscow to stop shielding Syria's Assad

Comments come after OPCW confirms that Assad regime used chlorine gas in 2018 Douma attack

Adla Massoud
Adla Massoud
United Nations

February 08, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

The US ambassador to the world's chemical weapons watchdog called on Russia on Wednesday to stop “actively and consistently” shielding its ally Syria from accountability for its use of the deadly weapons.

Joseph Manso's comments follow last month’s release of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report that blamed Damascus for the strike on the rebel-held town of Douma in 2018, which killed 43 people.

“I would say that at the very minimum, by extension, Russia bears responsibility for these atrocities,” Joseph Manso told reporters.

At least one helicopter of the Syrian “Tiger Forces” Elite Unit dropped two yellow cylinders containing toxic chlorine gas on two apartment buildings in a civilian-inhabited area in Douma, the report states.

OPCW investigators said in the report they had also received “credible information, corroborated through multiple sources” that Russian forces were located at Dumayr airbase alongside the Tiger Forces when the attack on Douma happened.

Mr Manso said the report “in itself does not address all of the issues that you need to address in the context of holding regime members accountable”.

However, it will eventually lead to more accountability, he said.

The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said on Tuesday that an absence of accountability is a threat to international peace and security and “a danger to us all”.

Mr Manso also said his country will not normalise relations with the Assad regime and does not support others doing so until there is “irreversible progress towards a political resolution to the conflict in line the Security Council resolution 2254".

“We have not seen that progress to date,” he said.

An affected man puts the aerosol mask on his child while his other daughter gives treatment to her other sister after a shelling attack on rebels-held Eastern Ghouta. EPA
An affected man puts the aerosol mask on his child while his other daughter gives treatment to her other sister after a shelling attack on rebels-held Eastern Ghouta. EPA
A child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP
A child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP
Syrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, work around destroyed buildings following reported air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma. AFP, file
Syrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, work around destroyed buildings following reported air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma. AFP, file
A Syrian child who was injured in shelling on the town of Misraba receives treatment at a make-shift hospital in the besieged rebel-held town of Douma. AFP
A Syrian child who was injured in shelling on the town of Misraba receives treatment at a make-shift hospital in the besieged rebel-held town of Douma. AFP
A Syrian man pushes out of a crowd after Syrian authorities distributed bread, vegetables and pasta to hungry Douma residents. AP
A Syrian man pushes out of a crowd after Syrian authorities distributed bread, vegetables and pasta to hungry Douma residents. AP
Russia vetoes a UN Security Council resolution that would have set up an investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria on April 10, 2018. AFP
Russia vetoes a UN Security Council resolution that would have set up an investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria on April 10, 2018. AFP
UN vehicles carrying the team of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). AP, File
UN vehicles carrying the team of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). AP, File
Labels of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are seen inside a damaged house in Douma in Damascus, Syria April 23, 2018. Reuters
Labels of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are seen inside a damaged house in Douma in Damascus, Syria April 23, 2018. Reuters
The Syrian government unleashed a ferocious assault on the then-rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta on February 18, 2018 aiming to crush militant groups on the doorstep of the capital. Civilans were trapped and many died. AFP
The Syrian government unleashed a ferocious assault on the then-rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta on February 18, 2018 aiming to crush militant groups on the doorstep of the capital. Civilans were trapped and many died. AFP
What appears to be white phosphorus incendiaries over Douma during regime bombardment of what was one of the few remaining rebel-held pockets in Eastern Ghouta. AFP, file
What appears to be white phosphorus incendiaries over Douma during regime bombardment of what was one of the few remaining rebel-held pockets in Eastern Ghouta. AFP, file
A Syrian man helps evacuate an injured victim following Syrian government air strikes on the Eastern Ghouta rebel-held enclave of Douma, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on March 20, 2018. AFP
A Syrian man helps evacuate an injured victim following Syrian government air strikes on the Eastern Ghouta rebel-held enclave of Douma, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on March 20, 2018. AFP
A woman gestures as she walks on rubble of damaged buildings after an airstrike in the besieged in eastern Ghouta. Reuters
A woman gestures as she walks on rubble of damaged buildings after an airstrike in the besieged in eastern Ghouta. Reuters
Syrians search for survivors following regime air strikes on the rebel-held besieged town of Douma in the eastern Ghouta region. AFP
Syrians search for survivors following regime air strikes on the rebel-held besieged town of Douma in the eastern Ghouta region. AFP
Syrian children sit before a mural on a wall bearing the logo of the Syrian Red Crescent in the Syrian town of Douma in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus on March 13, 2018. AFP
Syrian children sit before a mural on a wall bearing the logo of the Syrian Red Crescent in the Syrian town of Douma in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus on March 13, 2018. AFP
A shepherd leads his flock away from Douma to safer areas in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus, on March 7, 2018. AFP
A shepherd leads his flock away from Douma to safer areas in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus, on March 7, 2018. AFP
People ride a horse along a damaged street at the city of Douma in Damascus. Reuters
People ride a horse along a damaged street at the city of Douma in Damascus. Reuters
People walk on rubble of damaged buildings in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. Reuters, file
People walk on rubble of damaged buildings in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. Reuters, file
Our commentary on Brexit
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War and the virus
Saudi National Day
More on animal trafficking
You might also like
Tomorrow 2021
Tomorrow 2021
Tomorrow 2021
War on waste
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Updated: February 08, 2023, 6:43 PM`
SyriaUNRussia