The Russian defence ministry on Friday accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend, a bold charge that comes amid Moscow's warnings to the West against striking Syria.
Russian defence ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that images of victims of the purported attack were fakes staged with "Britain's direct involvement," without providing evidence.
White Helmets first-responder volunteers and activists claimed an alleged chemical attack on April 7 by the Syrian government killed over 40 people in the town of Douma, drawing international outrage and prompting Washington and its allies to consider a military response. Moscow warned against any strikes and threatened to retaliate.
Last month Britain blamed Russia for a nerve agent attack on an ex-spy and his daughter, accusations Russia has vehemently denied.
Konashenkov said that "powerful pressure from London was exerted on representatives of the so-called White Helmets to quickly stage the premeditated provocation." He added that the Russian military has proof of British involvement, but didn't immediately present it.
The accusations followed an earlier statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said that "intelligence agencies of a state that is now striving to spearhead a Russo-phobic campaign were involved in that fabrication." He didn't elaborate or name the state.
Britain's UN Ambassador Karen Pierce rejected the charge that it was involved in staging a fake chemical weapons attack in Douma. "This is grotesque, it is a blatant lie, it is the worst piece of fake news we've yet seen from the Russian propaganda machine," Pierce told reporters Friday.
No Trump decision
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said that Washington believes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces have used chemical weapons at least 50 times during the seven-year-long conflict in his country.
"Our president has not yet made a decision about possible action in Syria. But should the United States and our allies decide to act in Syria, it will be in defence of a principle on which we all agree," Haley said Friday at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
"All nations and all people will be harmed if we allow Assad to normalize the use of chemical weapons," Haley said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the same meeting, said the Middle East is in such "peril" that it has become a threat to international peace and security, and Syria "represents the most serious threat."
The attack has drawn international outrage and prompted the United States and its allies to consider a military strike on Syria, something Moscow has strongly warned against.
France's foreign minister has cancelled trips to Albania and Slovenia because of rising global tensions around the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
Macron claims proof
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he had proof that Assad's government was behind chlorine attacks in recent days. Syria's government denies responsibility.
On Friday, Macron stressed concerns about the deterioration of the situation in Syria in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and called for more dialogue with Moscow, his office said.
U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned Thursday that launching a military strike on Syria could spin out of control, suggesting caution in advance of a decision on how to respond to the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma.
"Our strategy remains the same as a year ago," he said. "It is to drive this to a UN-brokered peace but, at the same time, keep our foot on the neck of ISIS until we suffocate it," referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militant group.
Mattis's remarks at a House armed services committee hearing followed a series of Trump tweets this week that initially indicated he was committed to bombing Syria but later suggested he was awaiting further advice and assessment.
Trump wrote in a Thursday morning tweet that an attack could happen "very soon or not so soon at all."
Investigators en route
A team of inspectors from the international chemical weapons watchdog is travelling to Syria to begin an investigation into the suspected chemical weapons attack.
The fact-finding mission from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was expected to head to Douma, where Russia said rebels had now capitulated to government control. The Syrian government said it would facilitate the mission's investigation, which was to begin Saturday.
On Thursday, Russia's military said Douma had been brought under full control of the Syrian government under a Russia-mediated deal that secured the evacuation of the rebels and thousands of civilians after it was recaptured by Syrian forces.
The government, however, said evacuations from Douma were continuing, and no Syrian government forces had entered the town.
Douma and the sprawling eastern Ghouta region near Damascus had been under rebel control since 2012 and was a thorn in the side of Assad's government, threatening his seat of power with missiles and potential advances for years. The government's capture of Douma, the last town held by the rebels in eastern Ghouta, marked a major victory for Assad.