WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia has “failed” in its responsibility to deliver on a 2013 commitment to secure Syria’s chemical weapons.
Tillerson briefed reporters shortly after the U.S. launched cruise missiles against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a gruesome chemical weapons attack. The secretary says Russia has either been complicit or “simply incompetent” in failing to deliver on its end of the agreement.
The agreement was struck after a 2013 chemical weapons attack. President Barack Obama threatened air strikes at the time, but ultimately pulled back on military action.
President Donald Trump is now calling on “all civilized nations” to join the U.S. in seeking an end to the carnage in Syria.
Trump gave a brief statement Thursday shortly after the U.S. fired a barrage of around 60 cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week’s gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians.
Trump says “peace and harmony will prevail” so long as the U.S. continues to stand for justice.
