US 'prepared to act' in Syria if Eastern Ghouta ceasefire fails

The United States on Monday warned it was ready to act in Syria if needed to end chemical attacks and "inhuman suffering" as it pushed for a new 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta at the United Nations Security Council.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council that a ceasefire approved two weeks ago "has failed" and circulated a new draft resolution calling for a 30-day truce in the rebel enclave and Damascus.

"This is no ceasefire. This is the Assad regime, Iran, and Russia continuing to wage war against their political opponents," Haley said.

The US-drafted text seen by AFP would decide on a 30-day cessation of hostilities throughout Eastern Ghouta and Damascus City to begin immediately upon adoption.

The draft resolution would allow "safe, unimpeded and sustained access" for humanitarian aid convoys and "safe, unconditional, medical evacuations in Eastern Ghouta."

Haley said the text "provides no room for evasion" after accusing Russia of voting in favour of the ceasefire resolution and immediately disregarding it.

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The US ambassador recalled that President Donald Trump had ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base in April last year in retaliation for a sarin gas attack blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

"We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime: the United States remains prepared to act if we must," Haley said.

Russia carried out at least 20 daily bombing missions in Damascus and Eastern Ghouta in the first four days following the adoption of the resolution, Haley said.

Russia defends Eastern Ghouta offensive

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia hit back at the United States and its allies for "doing nothing but constantly blaming the Syrian regime and putting demands on Russia."

Nebenzia defended the Syrian regime offensive in Eastern Ghouta as a legitimate counter-terror operation.

"The government of Syria has every right to try to remove the threat to the safety of its citizens," the Russian ambassador said.

"The suburbs of Damascus cannot remain a hotbed of terrorism."

The ceasefire resolution was never intended to put in place an immediate truce, he said.

"What we are talking about is a preliminary agreement among the parties as a preconditon for sustained de-escalation in all difficult areas of Syria, not only Eastern Ghouta," he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that airstrikes, shelling and ground offensives had intensified in Eastern Ghouta since the ceasefire resolution was adopted on 24 February.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre piled pressure on Russia to halt operations and push the Syrian government to end its offensive, saying "Russia can stop the bloodbath."

"We all know that Russia has not been able or willing to stop this military offensive yet," he told reporters ahead of the meeting.

On Monday, Syrian forces pounded two rebel towns in Eastern Ghouta, pressing on with a Russia-backed offensive that has so far allowed regime fighters to retake nearly 60 percent of the enclave.

At least 1,162 civilians have been killed, including 241 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

More than 1,000 people, including many children, are in urgent need of evacuation, according to the United Nations.