Catholic leaders lament ‘reckless’ US air strike

Two Catholic leaders in Syria have criticised the US missile strike on a Syrian government air base suspected of launching a chemical attack on a rebel-held town on Tuesday of last week, writes Ellen Teague.

Dozens of civilians, including many children, died in the suspected nerve gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph Younan described the strike as an act of aggression. He told the Catholic News Service: “It is a shame that the United States administration didn’t wait until an honest United Nations investigation was thoroughly made into what is said to be a chemical air strike.”

Aleppo bishop Georges Abou Khazen, who serves Latin-rite Catholics, also expressed dismay at the US action. “One thing that baffles, in the face of the US military attack on Syrian territory, is the speed with which it was decided and carried out, without any adequate investigation into the tragic massacre with chemical weapons which took place in Idlib province,” said the bishop.

“This military operation opens new disturbing scenarios for all,” he added. Describing the action as “reckless”, he regretted that calls for an independent investigation into what happened in Idlib have been ignored.

On Monday, a joint command  made up of the forces of Russia, Iran and militias supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said the US strike crossed “red lines” and it would respond “with force” to any new aggression.