Lavrov: Russia would respond “proportionately” to US attack on Syria

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow would respond to a US "provocation" in Syria "proportionally and with dignity." He warned the US against launching a preemptive strike in Syria based on intelligence assessments that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad is planning a new chemical attack. (DEBKAfile was first to suggest that a preemptive US strike was possible.)

"They should not create excuses for more attacks against the Syrian army that is fighting terrorists," Lavrov added, saying terrorist groups could try to draw the U.S. into a strike against Syria by pinning responsibility for attacks against civilians on the Assad regime.