SECURITY COUNCIL: ‘Rival US and Russian resolutions defeated on Syrian chemical weapons’, Military Times, 17 November 2017; and ‘Syria: Russia blocks extension of chemical attacks probe’ BBC, 17 November.

Rival US and Russian resolutions to determine who was responsible for chemical attacks in Syria were defeated at a heated Security Council meeting that reflected the deteriorating relations between Washington and Moscow. The result of the two votes means that the expert body — the Joint Investigative Mechanism or JIM — will cease operations. Russia vetoed the U.S. draft resolution which was supported by 11 of the 15 Security Council members. Bolivia joined Russia in voting 'no'. China and Egypt abstained. 'Rival US and Russian resolutions defeated on Syrian chemical weapons', Military Times, 17 November 2017; and 'Syria: Russia blocks extension of chemical attacks probe' BBC, 17 November.