War drums in Syria - Cyprus in the eye of the storm due to bases

With a volcano ready to erupt, the situation in Syria is similar to that of the United States and its allies preparing to strike at Bashar al-Assad's forces over an allegedly nerve-wracking attack on Duma on Saturday.
 
On the one hand, the Americans and the French are ready to respond with airstrikes on the use of chemicals, and on the other hand, the Syrian government of Assad and the Russians are at hand in the scandal to respond to possible bombings.
 
At the same time that Eurocontrol warns of flight safety in the Eastern Mediterranean due to the upcoming conflict, Cyprus is "hanging" by the mouth of Theresa May who has not yet decided whether her country will participate in the business, which would mean using the British Bases. As in the past, the use of Cyprus as a base is not viewed favorably by the Arab world, and it is possible that it will change the balance and alliances in the region.
 
Among the US allies expected to take action is Britain, with Theresa May hesitating on whether or not to seek the approval of British lawmakers.
 
May is hesitant
 
The British Prime Minister agreed on Tuesday in contacts with US President Donald Trump and French President Emanuel Macron that the chemical attack on Duma must be answered.
 
However, according to British media sources, Ms. May reportedly told the US President that she must first acknowledge that Assad's regime was behind the attack.
 
In any case, if Britain decides to join the military operation, analysts and political commentators agree that this will play a crucial role for the forces at the Akrotiri base.
 
The six Tornado-type fighter jets and the eight Typhoons being deployed from Cyprus, as was done during previous operations against so-called Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, are said to be on standby.

 
Government: Bases are Bases 
 
Asked about the possibility of Britain using the Cape Bases to launch attacks on Syria, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou clarified that it is reasonable to have a lot of discussion about what is happening in our region, but clarified that the business environment is out of the question. our space.
 
"The Republic of Cyprus is not launching anything. Cyprus is in no way involved in the planned operations and there is no security risk, "said Prodromos Prodromou, among others.
 
Asked whether the Bases would be involved in the operations, the Government Spokesman noted that "Cyprus has no involvement and no agreement has been reached on the military operations planned by other forces, but the Bases are Bases."
 
Eurocontrol: Danger for flights in the Eastern Mediterranean
 
The European Aviation Safety Agency (Eurocontrol) on Tuesday warned airlines to pay close attention to the airspace of the eastern Mediterranean for the next 72 hours, due to the possible launch of air strikes in Syria.
According to the agency, air-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles may be launched at this time, and there may be interruptions in radio communications and navigation assistance systems.
"Attention needs to be paid to flight planning in the eastern Mediterranean and the Nicosia Flight Information Area (FIR)," the agency said in a statement, without elaborating.
In its warning to European Union airlines, Eurocontrol cites instructions from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
 
The authorities are reassuring
 
Speaking to RIK, Air Traffic Control Senior Haris Antoniadis noted that Eurocontrol's warning is simply a serious warning issued before the events, essentially to announce them in advance.
 
"No one can know what will happen, but our role is to protect civil aviation in our region. If there are developments, we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of the flights, either by canceling some flights or by blocking some areas of the Nicosia FIR ", Mr. Antoniadis noted.

Cold war climate in the UN
 
It is recalled that Moscow, al-Assad's biggest supporter, vetoed the UN Security Council on Tuesday (April 10th) in a US plan aimed at setting up an independent commission to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
 
Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has justified his country's 12th veto in Syria's seven-year civil war, with more than 350 dead, as "a will not to involve the Security Council in adventures."
 
US-French alliance
 
Opposite Russia are the United States and France in particular, which seem determined to respond militarily to the Assad regime.
"France will do everything in its power to punish those who use chemical weapons," said French Ambassador François Delattre. France will announce in the coming days its decision on what the response will be, in co-operation with its allies, Britain and the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Paris.
 
The US president, in fact, postponed his planned trip to Peru so that he could handle the Syrian problem, thus giving the impression that an immediate military operation is imminent.
 
Moscow and Damascus deny the use of chemicals
 
The International Organization for Chemical Weapons (OIAC) announced on Tuesday (April 10th) that a team would be sent directly to Syria to clarify what happened in Duma and East Guta, the rebel-held area near Damascus, where the insurgents are fighting. operations of the Assad regime. According to the blue helmets and the NGO Syrian American Medical Society, more than 40 people were killed on Saturday, April 7 in the Duma, while more than 500 people were hospitalized with respiratory problems due to the use of chemicals.
 
It should be noted that Damascus and Moscow deny that chemical weapons were used against the guerrillas.
 
The United States is sending another aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean 
 
At a time when the thermometer between Washington and Moscow has risen again for the crisis in Syria, the United States is sending the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, along with seven other warships.
The aircraft carrier sailed for the Mediterranean on Wednesday and off the coast of Syria will find the "USS Donald Cook" destroyer. The USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkeley, USS Forrest Sherman and USS Farragut will accompany the destroyer, as well as the USS Normandy cruiser.
 
Later, the USS The Sullivans and USS Jason Dunham destroyers will be added to this fleet. In total, these warships carry 6.000 sailors, while along with the American ones will be the German frigate "FGS Hessen", in the first half of their mission.
 
It will include "maritime security operations and co-operation efforts with allies and partners", provide "crisis management capabilities and enhance security co-operation, and promote maritime presence" in Europe and the Middle East, according to a statement. US Navy.
Harry S. Truman will replace the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying fleet, which completed its four-month mission to the Middle East last month.
 
Russia with the button in hand
 
On the other hand, Moscow is not sitting idly by, as it is now escalating its threats to Washington. Russia has made it clear that if the United States launches an attack on Syria, it will destroy US missiles and destroy its bases.
 
Hours after the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, threatened that "we may find ourselves on the brink of some very sad and serious incident" if Washington implements plans to attack the Assad regime in retaliation for the alleged use of chemicals. "Russia will comply with the president's statement on US aggression against Syria by shooting down US missiles," said Duma of Eastern Ghouta, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon. Speaking on Manar TV, Alexander Zasipkin added that the Russian targets will be the points from where the missiles will be launched (bases for launches, warships, etc.).
 
At the same time, the first deputy chairman of the Russian Parliament's Defense Committee, Yevgeny Serebrennikov, said that Moscow would respond immediately if the forces in Syria were attacked by the United States.
Mr Srebrenikov said security measures had been taken for the Russian air base in Khamimim and the naval base in Tarsus, as well as for all Russian troops and officers deployed in Syria as Washington prepared an attack on Assad's forces.
 
"We expect that the lives of our soldiers will not be endangered in the event of a US attack. I believe that the United States understands this and will not allow it, otherwise Russia's response will be immediate, as the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces said, "he said.

Source: Reporter