Russia's Defense Ministry: Syria is ready to stop fighting in area of chemical attack
The Syrian Armed Forces are ready to stop hostilities if a special mission of experts investigates the events of April 4th in Khan Sheikhoun. This was reported by RIA Novosti, referencing the Ministry of Defense of Russia as a source.
“At the request of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the command of the Syrian Armed Forces expressed its readiness to cease hostilities in Khan Sheikhoun if a special mission of experts is sent there to investigate the events of April 4th. To ensure the safety of the experts' mission in the Khan Sheikhoun area, Syria is ready to declare a full moratorium on the actions of its troops, planes and artillery in the area,” the Ministry said.
RIA Novosti reports that at the request of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the Syrian military confirmed its readiness to provide the necessary security conditions for the work of the special expert mission at the Shayrat airfield.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that on April 4th, a chemical attack from the air had taken place in Khan Sheikhoun, with more than 80 people killed. The United States accused the Syrian authorities of the chemical attack, and accused Russia of supporting the Bashar Assad regime.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons rejected the proposal by Russia and Iran to investigate the chemical weapons incident, in which sarin gas was allegedly used.