Western forces, including the US, UK and France, struck Syria with more than one hundred missiles today in the first coordinated western strikes against the Damascus government,
targeting what they said were chemical weapons sites in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack.
Smoke was still rising from some buildings hours after the strikes took place. Others were entirely destroyed.
The military move followed an alleged chemical attack last weekend in Syria that killed more than forty people and injured close to five hundred others.
The organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons says it plans to continue its investigation into last weekend’s suspected poison gas attack in eastern Syria, despite US-led airstrikes against the country. The global chemical warfare watchdog group says it will still deploy a team “to establish facts around the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma.”
Russia and Syria disagree with western allies that gas was used by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces. but the US ambassador to the United Nations says the US is quote: “locked and loaded” if the Syrian regime uses poisonous gas again.
President Trump tweeted this morning about the air strikes saying quote: “A perfectly executed strike last night. 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!”
On the sidelines, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with US Vice President Mike Pence in a bilateral meeting. Trudeau said Canada supports the “unfortunate, but necessary” strikes in Syria in response to chemical weapons use.
Trudeau and Pence also reiterated their mutual aspirations for a quick and successful NAFTA deal, with Pence saying the Trump administration was encouraged by the progress so far. Pence also expressed condolences for those affected by the Humboldt bus crash.
