Trump condemns Russia, "Animal Assad" for chemical attack in Syria; Russia refutes claim

U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and warned of a "big price" after reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria.

In posts on Twitter on Sunday, Mr. Trump condemned what he called a “mindless CHEMICAL attack” on women and children.

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

“Big Price,” Mr. Trump wrote, without expanding further. But the White House’s Homeland Security adviser, Thomas P. Bossert, said on ABC’s “This Week” program that nothing should be taken “off the table.”

RFE/RL reported that the opposition-linked first responders, so-called Syria Civil Defense emergency workers, known as White Helmets and other activist groups, said a helicopter dropped toxic gas inside barrel bombs late on April 7 over Douma, causing people to suffocate and choke.

There was no immediate independent verification of the reports, which Damascus and its ally Moscow dismissed as a "fabrication."

There were conflicting reports on the number killed by the alleged April 7 chemical attack, with the White Helmets reporting between 40 and 70 dead so far.

Russia’s Defense Ministry refuted reports on Sunday that the Syrian forces have used chemical weapons in Douma in Eastern Ghouta, Head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria Major-General Yuri Yevtushenko said.

According to the general, the allegations that a chlorine barrel bomb had been dropped in Douma by the Syrian armed forces were the work of the so-called independent non-governmental organizations, including the White Helmets, which is widely known for its fake news.

"We strongly reject this information and confirm readiness after Douma is liberated from militants to send Russian specialists in radiation, chemical and biological protection to collect data to confirm that these statements are fabricated," Tass reported the general as saying. 

CNN said that Trump's tweet naming Putin marks a rare rebuke by the President against the Russian leader. Trump also pinned the blame for the situation on former US President Barack Obama's Syria policies.

"If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!" Trump tweeted.

If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

RFE/RL referring to a statement said Turkey's Foreign Ministry "strongly" condemned the attack.

"There is strong suspicion [it] was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," it said.