Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict and highlighted the need to protect civilians.
Russia & US clash at UN over escalating fighting in Syria. The United States and Russia exchanged sharp accusations at the United Nations on Tuesday, each accusing the other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened to address the escalating violence in Syria.
The latest flare-up in Syria saw Syrian rebels, including the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), capture the city of Aleppo last week. HTS, previously known as the Nusra Front and formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, launched the offensive. The group is sanctioned by the UN Security Council due to its links to terrorism.
During the Security Council meeting, Robert Wood, the Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict and highlighted the need to protect civilians. Wood also expressed concerns over HTS’s leadership in the rebel offensive, noting that the group’s terrorist designation by both the US and the UN does not justify the actions of the Assad regime and its Russian allies. He condemned the Syrian government and Russian forces for their alleged attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which he claimed had resulted in numerous casualties.
In a pointed response, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the US of failing to condemn what he described as a “clear terrorist attack” against civilians in Syria. Nebenzia criticized the US for its stance, saying, “There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism.” He further stated, “To be frank, we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you.”
Wood retorted by accusing Russia of hypocrisy, stating that Moscow had no standing to lecture the US on countering terrorism due to its support for regimes that sponsor terrorism globally. He added, “The United States has for decades fought the scourge of terrorism and will continue to fight that scourge of terrorism.”
The exchange highlights the deepening divisions between the US and Russia over Syria, where both countries have been involved in the conflict for years, supporting opposing factions. The UN Security Council meeting underscored the international community’s growing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Syria, as both sides continue to accuse each other of exacerbating the violence.
