Syria complains to UN over West airstrikes

Syria’s Foreign Ministry has complained to the United Nations about the military measures taken by Britain, Australia and France on the Arab country's soil.

The ministry made the complaint on Thursday in two identical letters addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Vitaly Churkin, the current president of the Security Council and the Russian ambassador to the world body.

The letters denounced the measures taken by the three Western countries, noting that the airstrikes “grossly" contravene Article 51 of the UN Charter that stipulates, “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.”

It was said in the letters that any armed presence of foreign countries on the Syrian land under the pretext of fighting terrorism without the Damascus government’s approval would be a violation of the Middle Eastern country’s sovereignty.

The letters also mentioned that the aggressive measure by the Western countries could spread chaos and wars in the world.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry also called on the European countries to stop providing terrorist extremists with logistic and media support if they really want to fight terrorism.

On September 16, France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the country will start carrying out aerial attacks against what he called Daesh targets in Syria in the coming weeks. Since September 8, French fighter jets have been conducting reconnaissance flights over Syria in preparation for possible attacks in the Arab country.

On September 12, Australian warplanes conducted their first aerial operation in Syria after Canberra joined the so-called US-led coalition targeting purported Daesh positions in the conflict-wrecked country.

UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said earlier this month that London will not hesitate to carry out more secret drone attacks in Syria.

Since September 2014, the US, along with some of its allies, has been conducting airstrikes against purported Daesh targets inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

The airstrikes in Syria are an extension of the US-led aerial campaign against alleged Daesh positions in Iraq, which started in August 2014. Many have criticized the ineffectiveness of the raids.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011 with reports saying more than 240,000 people having been killed in the conflict.

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