The two countries issued a statement from the joint command center of Syrian allies. They accuse Trump of crossing red lines with his missile strike, and they claim that a show of “force” will arrive if he does so again. The ominous statement remains vague on exactly what type of response would be taken or what form of military action would qualify as a crossing of red lines, but Russia and Iran aren’t worried about the consequences of showing force:
“The United States crossed red lines by attacking Syria, from now on we will respond to anyone, including America if it attacks Syria and crosses the red lines. America knows very well our ability and capabilities to respond well to them, [and] we will respond without taking into consideration any reaction and consequences.
“Rest assured that we will liberate Syria from all kinds of occupying forces, it does not matter from where they came to the occupied part of Syria. Russia and Iran will not allow the United States to be the only superpower in world.”
The joint statement also promises that Iran and Russia are “closely and deeply following American forces’ moves and presence” and will “consider them [to be] an occupying force” in northern Syria. This threat presents obvious issues, considering how hundreds of U.S. Marines recently put “boots on the ground” to fire artillery near Raqqa in northern Syria. The deployment was intended to help take out the ISIS stronghold, but complications have arrived with Russia and Iran’s joint threat.
This war of (for now) words follows Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calling Russia “incompetent” for failing (as guarantor) to curb Syria’s agreement to destroy all chemical weapons. And of course, Iran has already slammed Trump as “inexperienced” after former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn put the country “on notice” over its own missile testing.
Source: / uproxx /