Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 14 (April 2018)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 14 (April 2018)
“Last night the President put our adversaries on notice: when he draws a red line he enforces it. (Inside the Situation Room as President is briefed on Syria - Official WH photos by Shealah Craighead) As I said, the President put our adversaries on notice that he enforces red lines with the strike on Syria Friday night. The photo was taken Thursday in the Situation Room during Syria briefing” under public domain by the Office of White House Press Secretary.
In April 2018, as reported by Brookings, there were concerns that a U.S. withdrawal from Syria would embolden Russia and Iran, potentially strengthening their influence in the region.
Reuters Investigates revealed a secret Russian airlift that was assisting Syria's President Assad, highlighting Russia's ongoing support for the Syrian regime.
The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt three resolutions on chemical weapons use in Syria, as stated by the United Nations. This reflected the challenges in reaching a consensus among the international community regarding the response to chemical attacks in the country.
NBC News reported that Russia had developed the capability to jam U.S. drones in Syria, showcasing its advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
The Guardian and other news outlets covered the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Russia after a chemical attack in Syria. President Donald Trump warned Russia to prepare for U.S. strikes against Syria, prompting a war of words and increasing fears of a direct confrontation.
As tensions mounted, CNN, NPR, and AP News reported on Trump's taunts to Russia, stating that U.S. missiles would strike Syria. This exchange of threats raised concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict.
PBS NewsHour highlighted Russia's response to the situation, with Russian officials threatening to shoot down missiles and target launch sites if the U.S. attacked Syria.
Insider reported that Trump planned to warn Russia about the specific locations in Syria that the U.S. would strike, signaling a cautious approach to avoid direct conflict with Russian forces.
In an interview, the CIA Director confirmed that "a couple hundred Russians" were killed in a U.S. assault in Syria, as reported by RFERL and TIME. This revelation shed light on the extent of Russian casualties in the conflict.
The MilitaryTimes warned that U.S. strikes on Syria posed a risk of conflict with Russia, underscoring the potential for further escalation.
The Economist discussed the impact of American sanctions and fears over the Syrian conflict on Russian markets, illustrating the economic repercussions of the crisis.
BBC News and Politico reported that Russia accused the UK of staging the alleged chemical attack in Syria, further complicating the narrative surrounding the incident.
On April 13, Trump ordered airstrikes on Syria, as confirmed by Politico. This military action drew mixed reactions from the international community.
Russian media, as covered by ABC News Australia, dismissed the airstrikes as "complete nonsense," presenting a different perspective on the events.
The New Yorker analyzed Russia's "madman" routine in Syria, suggesting that it may have averted a direct confrontation with the U.S., at least for the time being.
CBC News reported that the UN rejected Russia's bid to condemn the airstrikes on Syria, reflecting the divisions within the international organization regarding the response to the conflict.
Vox provided a concise explanation of the U.S. bombing of Syria, summarizing the key points in 400 words.
Al Jazeera explored why Russia did not respond to the U.S. strikes on Syria, presenting different perspectives on Russia's strategic calculations and motives.
CBS News reported accusations that Russia was blocking access to the alleged chemical attack site, raising concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
CNBC highlighted the U.S. ambassador to NATO's statement, urging Russia to stop its "mad behavior" and "malign influence" in Syria, emphasizing the negative impact of Russia's actions on the region.
The Christian Science Monitor discussed Russia's conflicting position regarding the U.S. military presence in Syria, noting that while Russia wanted the U.S. out, it still relied on American help to bring peace to the country.
Sky News reported that Russia claimed to have told the U.S. which areas in Syria they should not bomb, indicating a level of coordination between the two countries despite their tensions.
Brookings argued that it was time for the U.S. to demonstrate its military parade in Syria to send a message to Russia.
Finally, Boston Review assessed the impact of Trump's strike against Syria, questioning what it had actually accomplished in terms of resolving the conflict.
April 2018 was a critical month in the ongoing Syrian conflict, marked by escalating tensions between the U.S. and Russia, military strikes, accusations of chemical attacks, and the complex dynamics involving multiple actors in the region.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 1, 2023
Previous: Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 13 (January 2018 - March 2018)
Next: Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 15 (May 2018 - December 2018)
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Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 14 (April 2018):
How withdrawing from Syria would embolden Russia and Iran - BROOKINGS April 5, 2018
How a secret Russian airlift helps Syria's Assad - Reuters Investigates April 6, 2018
Russia has figured out how to jam U.S. drones in Syria, officials say - NBC News April 10, 2018
Donald Trump warns Russia to prepare for US strike against Syria - Financial Times Apr 11, 2018
Trump taunts Russia, says US military response coming in Syria - CNN April 11, 2018
Trump Tells Russia: 'Get Ready' For U.S. Missiles Striking Syria - NPR April 11, 2018
Trump warns Russia: “Get ready” for attack on Syria - AP News April 11, 2018
Trump will reportedly warn Russia where in Syria the US will strike - INSIDER April 12, 2018
US strikes on Syria pose risk of conflict with Russia - MiltaryTimes April 12, 2018
American sanctions, and fears over Syria, roil Russian markets - The Economist April 12, 2018
Russia says Syrian 'chemical attack' was staged - BBC News April 13, 2018
Russia accuses UK of staging Syria gas attack - POLITICO April 13, 2018
Trump strikes Syria - POLITICO April 13, 2018
Russian politician calls Trump 'Adolf Hitler No. 2 of our time' - USA Today April 13, 2018
Syria: who’s involved, and what do they want? - The Conversation April 13, 2018
Russia condemns US airstrikes on Syria as world reacts - DW April 14, 2018
UN rejects Russia's bid to condemn airstrikes on Syria - CBC News April 14, 2018
The US bombing of Syria, explained in 400 words - Vox April 14, 2018
Why Russia did not respond to the US strikes on Syria | Opinion - Al Jazeera April 15, 2018
Russia accused of blocking access to alleged chemical attack site - CBS News April 16, 2018
Russia: We told US where in Syria they could not bomb - sky news April 21, 2018
Time to show Russia a military parade—In Syria - BROOKINGS April 25, 2018
What Did Trump’s Strike Against Syria Actually Accomplish? - Boston Review April 30, 2018