As of: February 7, 2024, 1:14 p.m
By: Stephanie Munk
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Russia accuses US President Biden of carrying out air strikes in the Middle East purely for image reasons.
The USA, on the other hand, defends its retaliatory strike.
New York – Russia took verbal fire at the US government at an emergency meeting it called in the UN Security Council.
The US air strikes in Iraq and Syria would further inflame the situation in the Middle East - and this is happening quite “consciously,” said Russian UN Ambassador Wassili Nebenzia.
The USA intends to further “fuel” the conflict in the region.
The USA's sole goal is to "preserve its dominant role in the world"; it is not about solving the problems in the Middle East.
The Chinese ambassador echoed Russia's allegations: Zhang Jun told the UN Security Council that the US airstrikes would "certainly exacerbate" the "vicious circle" of violence and counter-violence in the Middle East.
The attacks in Iraq and Syria would represent a “serious violation of the sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” of the two countries.
Accusations to the USA: Russian UN Ambassador Wassili Nebenzia at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
© Imago
Russia: Biden wants to polish up image with air strikes
Russia's UN ambassador went a step further, accusing US President Joe Biden of using the retaliatory strikes in the Middle East to burnish his image ahead of the US election in November.
The Russian said that they see “a desire to somehow correct the disastrous image of the current American administration on the international stage while the presidential election campaign is in full swing.”
The retaliation was an “attempt to flex muscles” with the aim of “influencing the domestic political landscape in America,” he said.
The representatives of Syria and Iraq also sharply criticized the attacks.
US defends air strikes in Iraq and Syria as self-defense
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told the UN Security Council that the air strikes on Iran-backed militias were “necessary and proportionate”.
They were an act of self-defense.
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“The US does not want more conflict in a region where we are actively working to limit and de-escalate the conflict in the Gaza Strip,” the US diplomat said, defending the Biden administration.
“We do not seek direct confrontation with Iran, but we will continue to defend our soldiers against unacceptable attacks.
Point."
USA retaliates after attack on US soldiers in the Middle East
The USA carried out retaliatory attacks against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Syria on Saturday night (February 3).
This was in response to the deaths of three US soldiers in a drone strike on a base in Jordan.
Dozens of people were killed in the US drone strike.
The US government has promised further retaliatory attacks.
UN top official Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday (February 5) called on the UN Security Council to stay in touch with "all parties" to prevent "further escalation" and "worsening of tensions".
(AFP/smu)