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Rabat- The US, UK, and France launched coordinated airstrikes hitting targets at three sites in Syria in the early hours of Saturday morning, in response to Bashar Al-Assad’s alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians in the Damascus enclave of Douma over a week ago.
“A short time ago, I ordered the United States armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapon capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,” Trump said at the White House.
“A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now under way. We thank them both. This massacre was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use by that very terrible regime,” he added.
As Trump was making his White House address, large explosions were heard in the capital Damascus, with footages showing missiles streaking over the night sky in Syria.
A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 14 avril 2018
US Defense Secretary James Mattis said, “Right now this is a one-time shot and I believe that it sent a very strong message” to the Syrian regime, adding that the strikes would continue until the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons ends.
In his speech, Trump warned Russia and Iran not to stand by their ally in Damascus.
“Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace,” Trump argued.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the US strikes had hit the Syrian capital when the country “finally” had a chance at peace.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi condemned the strikes, saying that “the attack is the blatant violation of international laws, as well as ignoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” according to Iran’s state news agency.
The military strikes occurred after US President Trump warned Syria’s Bashar al-Assad that there will be “a big price to pay,” over chemical attack on a rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta which has killed dozens of people earlier this week.
