FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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Russian Ambassador Presents Evidence to State Department Officials

Aug. 30, 2018 (EIRNS)—Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador in Washington, confirmed yesterday that he had meet with the U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey, and David M. Satterfield, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, on Aug. 27 to brief them on Moscow’s intelligence on the planned false flag operation by the jihadis in southern Idlib province. Antonov had requested the meeting on Aug. 24.

At the meeting, Russia officially conveyed its concerns over reports that Washington, together with France and the U.K., is gearing up for another set of airstrikes in Syria under the pretext of a chemical attack to be blamed on the Syrian government. Moscow has asked Washington to “provide the facts without delay” to substantiate the new allegations that Damascus uses chemical weapons against its own people, TASS reports.

Moscow cautioned Washington against falling for this provocation, stating that a massive airstrike targeting Syria’s military and civilian infrastructure will constitute another act of “groundless and illegal aggression” against Syria. “A new escalation in Syria does not correspond to interests of any party. We believe that our concern will be heard,” RT quoted Antonov as saying, and that he hopes the U.S. “will take every effort to prevent terrorists from using toxic chemicals, and will act responsibly, in accordance with the status of a UN Security Council permanent member.”