On Friday evening, the United States, Britain and France launched joint strikes on Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons hitting three targets – the Barzah Research and Development Centre in Damascus, a chemical weapons bunker and a chemical weapons storage facility near Homs. The strikes were carried out without waiting for the U.N. report to confirm the authenticity of the allegation.
U.S. and its western allied launched a targeted military strike on April 13, 2018 over its use of chemical attacks. Credit: Lt. J.G. Matthew Daniels/US Navy via AP
Russia later rebuked the targeted strikes as “unlawful” and “illegal” because they were conducted outside the auspices of the UN and were launched even as a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was in Syria to investigate the chemical attack claim.
A total of 105 missiles were launched against the 3 targets which, according to the Pentagon, “successfully hit every target.” The US fired its missiles from 5 warships and a submarine while British forces launched 4 missiles from their bombers and the French launched 9 missiles.
A U.S. B1 Bomber en-route to Syria on a targeted strike on Friday, April 13, 2018. Credit: Department of Defence via AP
The military strikes took place at 9:00 pm EST which was about 3:00 am Syrian local time.
“The use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated” said British Prime Minister Theresa May, pointing out that the limited strike was “not about interference in the Syrian civil war” or “regime change.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May speaking to the press on the U.S-led military strike on Syria. Credit: Simon Dawson/AP
“We believe the action was successful,” she added.
NATO allies gave their full support on the attacks adding there was no other practical alternative to the use of force which degraded Syria’s ability to carry out another chemical attack.
“To be silent and do nothing when chemical weapons are used with impunity, is unthinkable,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attack, “necessary and appropriate.”
The Syrian Scientific Research Centre after the U.S-led military strike on Friday, April 13, 2018. Credit: AP
The decision to strike Syria by the tripartite western coalition was based on what happened in Douma on April 7 and mainly on the accounts of photos and videos shot by aid workers. The decision was also based on unspecified intelligence including additional open information.
Although the military action was deemed targeted, reports from other networks including BBC said that of the 100+ missiles fired, 70 of them were intercepted and shot down by Syrian forces, an account denied by both the Pentagon, White House and their western allies.
President Trump declaring “Mission Accomplished” after the Syria air strikes on Friday, April 13, 2018. Credit: AP/Susan Walsh
While the Trump Administration and its western allies declared “mission accomplished” on the Syrian strikes, there’s been criticism that the coalition strikes were rushed without waiting for OPCW inspectors to begin their investigation into claims of chemical attack on Saturday.
Also, the western allies were criticized for not waiting for the UN Report on WMDs on Syria, prompting even more questions on the authenticity of the yet-to-be verified claims of the alleged chemical attacks.
U.N. vehicles carrying a team of OPCW inspectors in Damascus on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Credit: AP
The military strikes have raised questions over the failed system of international security as the UN is once again being rendered ineffective and useless in its core mandate to protect and prevent conflicts.
U.K. and U.S. Ambassadors to the UN during a session on Saturday exchanging a note. Credit: AP/Mary Altaffer
Both Russia and Iran called the use of force by the US and its western allies a “military crime” and “act of aggression.” There has been no retaliation to the strikes from the Syria’s major allies Russia and Iran.
The U.N. resolution calling for condemnation of the “aggression” by the tripartite coalition introduced by Russia over the weekend was rejected by the U.N. Security Council on Saturday.
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