Merkel refuses to join US-led military action against Syria
German Chancellor Angela Merkel refuses to join a military action led by the United States against the Syrian government following its alleged chemical attack on the city of Douma last Saturday, Sputnik reported on Thursday. However, Merkel did say that a "whole spectrum of measures must be considered on Syria." The chancellor added that "it is important to show unity on Syria" and pointed out that it is "obvious" that the Syrian regime retained a number of chemical weapons despite promising to destroy the stockpile in 2013.
Yesterday, the US President Donald Trump threatened to launch missiles on Syria in response to the alleged attack but seemed to downplay his warning in a tweet earlier today, in which he said the move could happen soon or "not so soon at all." Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday that the UK Prime Minister Theresa May is ready to join the anti-Assad strike even without the consent of the British Parliament. Also, the French president Emmanuel Macron claimed earlier today that there is proof of Bashar al-Assad's regime using chemical weapons and added that his country's response will come at a "time of our choosing."