US, Russia trade accusations of supporting terrorism amid Syrian violence
Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, speaks at a meeting of the UN Security Council on threats to international peace and security, March 18, 2022, in New York, the US (AFP Photo)
The U.S. and Russia traded accusations of supporting terrorism during a heated U.N. Security Council session on escalating violence in Syria.
The meeting followed the capture of Aleppo by Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.N.-designated terrorist group.
Key points
- Rebel offensive: Syrian rebels, spearheaded by HTS, seized control of Aleppo last week. HTS, formerly al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, remains sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council.
- US condemnation: U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood condemned both HTS’s actions and the response by Assad’s regime and Russian forces, highlighting attacks on schools and hospitals as atrocities.
- Russian response: Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the U.S. for failing to condemn the HTS-led attack, accusing Washington of insincerity in combating terrorism.
The escalation in Syria underscores ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia over their respective roles in the region and broader counterterrorism strategies.
