US strike merely limits Damascus to conventional arms

Significance

The overnight operation was in response to a chemical gas attack attributed to the Syrian government in the village of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on April 4. The air raid, apparently using a nerve agent such as sarin, killed at least 72 people, including children, and caused global outrage. However, Moscow yesterday blocked a condemnatory UN resolution, causing Washington to threaten unilateral action.

Impacts

• Trump's demonstrated willingness to use force could cause foreign leaders to view him with more caution.
• Moscow is unlikely to call off a planned visit by the US Secretary of State on April 11-12.
• Russia may reconsider any plans to supplant US primacy elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.
• The risk of retaliation against South Korea and Japan will dissuade Trump from similar action against North Korea.