US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has lashed out at Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, accusing the Syrian regime of becoming a front for Tehran to advance its “dangerous” regional agenda.
“When we look out across the Middle East, we know one thing for certain. When Iran and Hezbollah move in, instability always follows,” Haley told the Security Council on Wednesday.
“The Assad regime has become a front for Iran, Hezbollah, and their allies to advance the irresponsible and dangerous agenda for the Middle East,” she said.
“Hezbollah” has sent its members to fight alongside troops loyal to Bashar Assad.
Last week was one of the bloodiest in the nearly seven-year-old conflict as Syrian regime forces, backed by Russia and Iran, bombarded two of the last major rebel areas: Eastern Ghouta near Damascus and the northwestern province of Idlib.
“When we see the Assad regime starving civilians in eastern Ghouta or pummeling schools and hospitals in Idlib, we see advisers from Iran and Hezbollah helping direct those atrocities,” Haley said.
The diplomat also told the Council that Russia was supposed to guarantee adherence to the de-escalation zones and the removal of all chemical weapons from its ally Syria.
"Instead we to see the Assad regime continue to bomb, starve and yes, gas, civilians," Haley said. "Russia can push the regime to commit to seeking a real peace in Syria ... now is the time for Russia to use that leverage."
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia pushed back on Haley's remarks, saying the Syrian political process should be free from "external pressure." He also called on the United States to "exert their influence" on Syrian opposition fighters to ensure they cease hostilities.
