Tamarod movement: Egypt should shut Suez Canal to anti-Syria warships

Egypt’s Tamarod (rebellion) movement has called on Egyptian authorities to close the Suez Canal to vessels carrying weapons for a potential US strike on Syria.

The Egyptian movement said in a Wednesday statement that “it is a national duty to support the Syrian army.”

Tamarod also condemned “people who betray their country.”

Tamarod spokesperson Hassan Shahin said that Egypt should take a firm stance against any US aggression on Syria.

“We should shut the Suez Canal before destroyers, machinery or oil vessels pass to strike Syria,” Shahin said.

“We’ll support the Syrian army. No place for traitors. Arab people should revolt after schemes by the Free [Syrian] Army and its supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and extremists to strike the whole Arab world were disclosed,” he added.

Speculations are becoming stronger about the possibility of a military attack on Syria over an alleged chemical attack in the country.

On August 21, the militants operating inside Syria and the foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed that hundreds had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in the Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar.

A number of Western and Arab countries have also accused Damascus of carrying out the attack.

However, the Syrian government has denied the allegations as baseless.

Media outlets reported US plans for likely surgical attacks, which would be in the form of “cruise-missile strikes,” and “could rely on four US destroyers in the Mediterranean [Sea].” The plan was said to be awaiting US President Barack Obama’s go-ahead.