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| Tomahawk Cruise missile |
An official confirmed the site targeted is under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. US media says the airfield is located near Homs. The Pentagon confirmed the exact objective was the Shayrat airfield.
Speaking ahead of the strikes, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Assad should have no role in a future Syria.
Ordered by President Donald Trump, the strikes follow a suspected chemical attack on rebel-held Idlib, in which more than 70 people were killed.
He later said: “Today I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched.”
The strikes were, he said, in the national security interests of the US.
Trump’s order to launch the missiles came a day after he accused his Syrian counterpart of responsibility for a deadly chemical attack Assad’s government denies carrying out.
“No child of God should ever suffer such horror,” Trump said in a statement following the military action.
EU-Digest: We have not always been very optimistic about President Trumps actions, but this one was a good move which not only puts Assad on notice but also the Russians.
Read more: US forces fire 'some 50' Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syrian base | Euronews
