An end to the war in Syria will not be achieved through further intervention but by genuine attempts to win peace
There must be every fear that Donald Trump is planning a further escalation of his wars in the Middle East – an escalation which will be backed by the weak and rotten British government, propped up by the right-wing DUP. Michael Fallon has already recklessly committed to support any escalation. It is a move we should all oppose.
There can be no justification for the use of chemical weapons, and we condemn any use of them. Trump’s claim that he knows of a proposed chemical weapons attack to be carried out by the Assad government, and that he will use military action to prevent this, should also worry everyone who wants peace in the Middle East. We do not know what evidence he has, and it is clear that at least some US military sources are sceptical of his claims. But we do know that Trump has built up US support for Saudi Arabia in recent months, and at the same time increased his verbal attacks on Iran, one of Syria’s main allies. He is also giving full support to Israel, which is ratcheting up its siege on Gaza, with terrible humanitarian consequences.
Trump talks about not wanting to see innocent civilians killed, but is responsible for intensifying the bombing of Mosul in the conflict with ISIS. This bombing is leading to hundreds of civilian deaths, as is the bombing in the Syrian city of Raqqa. In recent weeks, conflict between the major powers is growing, with the US shooting down a Syrian plane in Syria, and Russia now tearing up coordination agreements with the US.
We want to see an end to the war in Syria, and condemn the bombings on all sides, Russian and Syrian, US and British. This will not be achieved through further intervention, but by genuine attempts to win a peace which benefits the people of the region who are suffering so much.
We will be joining the People’s Assembly demonstration this Saturday to urge the British government – now propped up by the right-wing DUP – to end its interventions in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and to refuse to follow Trump in this latest drive to more war.