07 April 2017•Update: 08 April 2017
By Mustafa Melih Ahishali and Abdul-Jabbar Abu Ras
TEHRAN
Iran and Russia will “not remain silent” regarding Friday’s U.S. missile attack on Syria’s Shayrat Airbase, according to an Iranian official.
Describing Friday’s missile strike as "unwise", Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Iranian Shura Council’s foreign policy and national security committee, was quoted by the Iranian Parliamentary News Agency as saying that “the Syrian regime doesn’t possess chemical weapons”.
Friday’s barrage -- which involved 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles -- came in ostensible response to a Tuesday chemical attack in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.
While Tuesday’s deadly chemical attack has been widely blamed on Syria’s Assad regime, the latter has strenuously denied involvement.
Responding to the early Friday missile attack by the U.S., Moscow suspended a memorandum of understanding signed earlier with Washington that had been aimed at coordinating U.S. and Russian air activity in Syrian airspace.
"Russia has suspended the MoU on the Prevention of Flight Safety Incidents… signed with the U.S.," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
China urges restraint post US strikes in Syria
China also has called for restraint in its first official statement following the U.S. strikes on a Syrian military base, the state-run Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported Friday.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: “China called on all sides to prevent the deterioration of the situation in order to ensure the political solution in the Syria crisis.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: “China condemned the chemical attacks carried out in Syria recently and supports the United Nations in launching an independent investigation.”
She added China always opposes the use of chemical weapons by any country, organization or person for whatever purposes.
Japan backs
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the media Friday Japan understands and supports the U.S. strategy in Syria.
"We understand that the action taken by the United States was a measure to prevent the situation from worsening further.
"The Japanese government supports the U.S. government’s determination never to tolerate the further spread and use of chemical weapons," he added.
Indonesia urges refrain from violence
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasir told reporters on Friday: "All related parties should refrain from violence and protect human rights.
"Indonesia as a signatory to the chemical weapons convention refuses the chemical weapons usage for whatever reasons," he added.
Early Friday, U.S. military forces fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria’s Shayrat military airbase, which American officials say had been used to carry out Tuesday’s chemical attack, the Pentagon confirmed.
