UN to meet on threat of military action in Syria

"There's a consistency in these threats, so we are concerned because any unilateral action would be a violation of the principles and purposes of the (UN) charter," Ambassador Sacha Sergio Llorentty Soliz said.

On Wednesday, a senior Russian lawmaker said Moscow will engage its warships in the Mediterranean to protect Russian assets in Syria from a possible US strike. Trump blasted Moscow for standing by Assad after as many as 60 people died following an alleged chemical weapons attack in Eastern Ghouta on Saturday.

In provocative tweets, Trump criticised Moscow for being "partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!". 

The UN Security Council failed on Tuesday to approve several draft resolutions on chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia vetoed a US draft proposal that would assign blame for Saturday's alleged attack.

Two Russian proposals that would investigate the attack but not determine culpability also failed to muster the nine votes needed to pass the 15-member body. 

"Whatever happens next has to abide by international law," said Swedish UN Ambassador Olof Skoog while referring to US plans for military action.

However, some officials said a unilateral strike on Syria could be justified based on international law. 

They said it could be carried out in support of several UN Security Council resolutions. In addition, it could be argued a strike would stop the use of weapons of mass destruction given that the UN body has been unable to do so.

Article 51 of the UN Charter also stipulates that individuals or groups have a collective right to self-defence following an armed attack like the alleged chemical strike on Saturday.

"The use of chemical weapons, once allowed to spread, is a threat to everybody and if that takes hold and becomes a routine part of fighting, then we are all at risk," said a Security Council diplomat, who spoke to Reuters.

The US in September 2014 defended its military campaign against the Islamic State group, citing Article 51. It said the campaign against iS was to eliminate the threat to Iraq. 

The Syrian regime has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons in Syria's now seven-year long war. But a recent Human Rights Watch report found that the regime was responsible for the majority of 85 documented chemical weapons attacks between 21 August, 2013 and 25 February, 2018.

Agencies contributed to this report.