Middle East

US, allies attack Syrian ‘chemical weapon sites’, Russia, Iran warn of ‘consequences’

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The United States and its allies The United Kingdom and France launched air strikes on Syria at targets ‘associated with the chemical weapons capabilities’.

The attack come after a chemical attack in Douma, a former rebel stronghold. US President Donald Trump in his address said that the attack was to ‘punish’ his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, whom the US blames for the chemical attack which killed at least 70 people.

The strikes on Friday night was intended to show Western resolve in the face of what the leaders of the three nations called persistent violations of international law, reports The New York Times.

“I ordered the US armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapon capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,” Trump said from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.

“The combined American, British and French response to these atrocities will integrate all instruments of our national power: military, economic and diplomatic,” Trump said.

In his speech, Trump deemed the chemical attack in Douma as “Not the actions of a man… They are crimes of a monster instead.”


Trump indicated the strikes would continue until the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons ends, reports CNN.
“We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” he added.

The strikes targeted three facilities associated with Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal, including a scientific research facility around Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility around Homs alleged to be used for sarin gas and a nearby command post, according to the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Russia has said that the US and its allies have attacked precisely at the moment when Syria had a chance at peace.

“Those behind it lay claim to moral leadership in this world and declare their exclusiveness and uniqueness,” TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

“In fact, it takes a very peculiar kind of uniqueness to attack Syria’s capital at a time when the country has received a chance for peace at last”.

Iran also warned of “regional consequences” following the attacks.

“The United States and its allies have no proof and, without even waiting for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to take a position, have carried out this military attack … and are responsible for the regional consequences,” said foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi on his Telegram channel.

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