Trump said that the chemical weapons attack on April 7 on the rebel-held town of Douma in which 40 people lost their lives and more than 500 were injured "was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapon use by that very terrible regime". He added, "The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. Establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the United States."
Trump also said in his address that the US response will continue until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents.
France and UK are also participating in the attack on sites that are believed to harbour chemical weapons in Syria.
Trump’s response came days after speculations that the US may get involved militarily in Syria. Donald Trump on April 11 tweeted while warning Russia that the US will launch a strike in Syria.
Here are the top developments around the US-led airstrikes in Syria in response to the alleged chemical attack:
1) Theresa May says no other alternative: British PM Theresa May said that there was "no practicable alternative" to the use of force in Syria as she announced Britain had joined France and the United States in launching strikes against Syria.
"This evening, I have authorised British armed forces to conduct coordinated and targeted strikes to degrade the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability and deter their use," she said in a statement.
UK's Defence Ministry has confirmed that four RAF Tornado jets took part in the Syria strike along with French and US forces.
2) Second US strike in Syria: Last year on April 4, the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun was allegedly attacked by chemical weapons. In response to this, the US launched a missile strike on April 7 targeting the Shayrat airbase near Homs from where the attack was reportedly conducted.
The Pentagon had informed that 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from two US vessels in the eastern Mediterranean. This strike reportedly destroyed 20 per cent of the Syrian Air Force.
This was the first time that the US had directly attacked Syrian forces since the beginning of the civil war in 2011.
3) Huge explosions heard: Several huge explosions were heard in Syria's capital, Damascus, early today, AFP's correspondent there said, as US President Donald Trump announced strikes on the country.
The strikes carried out by the US-led forces targeted three Syria's chemical weapons arsenal facilities. A research facility close to Damascus was hit, a chemical weapons storage facility around Homs and a command post were the targets of US-led strike.
US defense officials have said that about 100-120 missiles were launched by American forces against the Syrian regime on targets purportedly housing chemical weapons.
4) France joins in: French President Emmanuel Macron said that France had joined the US and Britain in an ongoing operation of strikes to target "the capacities of the Syrian regime to produce and use chemical weapons".
AFP reported that 'large part' of Syria's chemical arsenal has been destroyed, quoting French sources. France also said that they have 'solid intelligence' that Syrian regime was behind the chemical attack on April 7. French authorities have also warned of further air strikes in case a new chemical attack surfaces in Syria
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced US President Donald Trump, France's Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Theresa May after they launched strikes today against the Syrian regime, branding them "criminals".
"The attack this morning against Syria is a crime," Khamenei said in remarks published on his Telegram channel. "The American president, the French president and the British prime minister are criminals.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday said that the "Cold War is back with a vengeance", as he warned against the escalation of tensions among rival factions -- the US and Russia -- over the suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria.
10) Russia reacts to Syrian strikes: Reacting to the US-led strikes, Russia’s foreign ministry said that the Syrian capital was attacked at the very moment when the country had a chance for a peaceful future.
A Russian international television network reported that President Vladimir Putin said that, "US-led strikes in Syria without United Nations Security Council mandate (is) a violation of international law"
Russia’s foreign ministry also said that the Western media has some responsibility for the Syria attack, which was based on its reports.
"Not one of the cruise missiles released by the US and its allies entered the zone of responsibility of Russian air defences protecting facilities in Tartus and Hmeimim," the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency.
Russia on Friday had claimed that they had evidence that UK had staged the chemical attack while colluding with White Helmets.
AFP quoting Russian Defence Ministry reported that "a significant number" of missiles fired by the coalition were intercepted.
The Russian Ambassador to the US said, "A pre-designed scenario is being implemented. Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences."
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