MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US coalition: Strikes in Syria increases tension; reactions worldwide
Three targets were hit in the one-night operation. The damaged installations were Syrian research, storage and military buildings. 
“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!” wrote Mr. Trump. 
Just 11 days ago, the US president publicly claimed for abandoning the conflict Bombs have fallen. Damascus has been beaten again. The United States, United Kingdom and France coalition launched airstrikes against Syrian targets as Donald Trump sought to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a suspected chemical attack last weekend near Damascus that killed more than 40 people.
“Mission Accomplished!” wrote Donald Trump through his Twitter account this morning after announcing the one-night operation that hit three targets. The damaged installations were Syrian research, storage and military buildings.
French and United Kingdom leaders confirmed their involvement in the strikes.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain's involvement in the strikes. “We would have preferred an alternative path. But on this occasion there is none.” While French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed France's military involvement in the operation.
According to Theresa May, the strikes were not about “regime change” or “intervening in a civil war”, but were to “deter the use of chemical weapons” by the Syrian government.
On the other hand, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad releases a video showing it is business as usual in Syria. “The barbaric aggression will not affect the Syrian people and their heroic armed forces,“ state news agency SANA cited an official source as saying.
Shortly after the attack, the Syrian presidency posted on Twitter, “Honorable souls cannot be humiliated.”
The EU called on Saturday for Syria’s allies, Russia and Iran, to help stop more chemical weapons attacks by the Syrian government, warning of fresh economic sanctions.
Russia’s reaction was calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as Moscow said it would consider supplying S-300 missile systems to Syria following U.S.-led strikes. ”Russia convenes an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss aggressive actions of the U.S. and its allies,“ President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website.
Just 11 days ago, on April 3, the US president publicly claimed for abandoning the conflict and repatriation of the 2,000 soldiers stationed in Syria. ”We do not get anything out of it. We have nothing, except death and destruction. It's horrible,” Trump said then. Four days later, everything changed. The civil population of the rebel Duma, according to the American version, was gassed. There were at least 60 dead and hundreds injured.
US coalition warn Syria of more missile strikes if chemical attacks used again.
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Read all commentsThe Syrians had a massive army, I think rogue units have been doing these chemical attacks. I think it was right to hit the chemical facilties to disuade them from doing it again without killing any Russians. The Russians regard Britain as weak and are taking the Mickey and it will stay that way whilst Putin is in charge - their loss. Listening to Jeremy this morning one can see why they think we are weak.
Apr 15th, 2018 - 08:59 am +3@DT The destruction of chemical weapons factories is nothing like Iraq et al. It is not going to war with Syria or trying to effect regime change. It was to remove the ability of Assad to use chemical weapons on his own people. He was warned not to do it again after the last time and that to do so would cross a line but he ignored it. The agreement to ban the use of chemical weapons has been in effect for one hundred years. It is monitored by the UN who wanted to deal with it by sending in an investigation team but it was vetoed by Russia. What other action could have been taken? Doing nothing under Obama's administration emboldened Russia to take the Ukraine, forced the mass exodus of refugees to Europe and Assad to use chemical weapons again.
Apr 15th, 2018 - 06:12 pm +3As for asking permission from MPs before engaging in the operation: 1) It was the Easter recess and to call back all the MPs would have given days of notice to Assad to move the chemicals. 2) May can authorise operations as the elected PM - it was not a declaration of war. .
Whether or not it is effective in the long run is debatable. To do nothing emboldens the twin evils of Putin and Assad to behave without thought or restraint. To provoke a madman with nuclear capabilities who has said that 'without Putin there is no Russia' and 'why would we want a world without Russia' is worrying for everyone.
THINK: Do you dream with Putin?
Apr 14th, 2018 - 03:09 pm +2Commenting for this story is now closed.
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