In response to US strikes against Syrian air base, Russia has said it is suspending its agreement with the United States to prevent mid-air collisions over Syria.
The announcement was made today by the Russian Foreign Ministry following US air strikes that targeted a Syrian military in South Homs from where Washington says chemical attacks in Tuesday were launched.
Under Russian-US memorandum, both countries were exchanging information about their flights to prevent mid-air collisions in the crowded sky over Syria.
The agreement was reached in the aftermath of the air campaign launched by Moscow in September 2015 to come to the aid of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
US strikes were condemned by Russia and Iran, Assad’s staunchest allies. Russian President, Vladimir Putin described the presence of US troops on Syrian territories as a “violation of international law”.
“Now there is a clear act of aggression against a sovereign Syria”, said Putin, adding that “US Actions taken today further destroy the Russian-American relations”.
In the meantime, Russian Foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said his country would demand explanation from the US over the strikes. Moscow’s chief diplomat described the attack as “as “an act of aggression with an invented pretext”.
Washington said that the air strikes came in response to the Syrian Government troops’ chemical weapons attack on Tuesday against rebel forces in Idlib, killing 84 people including 27 children.
US President Donald Trump said it was vital for his country’s national security to prevent the spread of chemical weapons.
Trump called on “all civilised nations to join us in seeking to end this slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types”.
