Russia says US, UK, France preparing to strike Syria again

The U.S., U.K. and France are preparing to strike Syria due to the Assad regime using chemical weapons in Idlib, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday that Western powers are preparing to blame a chemical attack that will take place in Idlib’s Jissr al-Shughur region on the Syrian regime.

Konashenkov said militants who have been trained by specialists of the U.K. private military company Olive to handle chemical warfare agents have also arrived in Idlib, noting that they have been tasked to simulate a rescue operation for locals allegedly hurt in the chemical attack and will be clad in the outfits of the White Helmets group.

"The U.S. Navy’s destroyer Sullivans with 56 cruise missiles on its board arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago while a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface missiles was redeployed to the al-Udeid air base in Qatar," the Russian general said.

"The staging of this provocation with the active participation of the UK special services is set to serve as a new pretext for missile and bomb strikes by the United States, Great Britain and France," he continued.

"Therefore, the actions by Western countries contrary to public statements are aimed at another dramatic escalation of the situation in the Middle East and at disrupting the peace process on the territory of Syria," he concluded.