US, UK, France launch airstrikes on Syria over suspected chemical attack

America, Britain and France have launched a coordinated airstrike on Syria in response to a chemical weapon attack that killed 70 people.

Announcing the attack on Friday night at the White House, Donald Trump, US President, said it is the beginning of efforts to stop Bashar Al-Assad

“A short time ago, I ordered the United States armed forces to launch precision strikes on target associated with chemical weapon capabilities of Syrian dictator, Bashar Al-Assad,” he said.

“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.

“To Iran and to Russia I ask – what kind of regime wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?

“The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No state can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators.

Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Theresa May of UK said it was the first time she took a grave decision.

“There is no graver decision for a prime minister than to commit our forces to combat and this is the first time I have had to do so.”

May said the UK was confident that the strikes would have degraded Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile and discourage future use.

New York Times reports that three facilities reported to be involved in the use of chemical weapons were targeted. One was a scientific facility near Damascus and two storage facilities near Homs.

In a statement on Saturday, Syrian armed forces said 110 missiles were fired and that the country’s defence systems “intercepted most of the missiles, but some hit targets including the Research Center in Barzeh.”