US, UK and France strike Syria
Strikes in Syria: The US, UK and France launched coordinated air strikes in Syria, hitting targets associated with the Syrian regime's chemical weapons program.
How we got here: The US and its allies blame Syria for an apparent chemical attack on the city of Douma just over a week ago. US President Trump and UK Prime Minister May said such action could not go unchallenged.
15 min ago
3 US ships participated in Syria strikes
From CNN’s Ryan Browne in Washington DC
Two defense officials tell CNN that at least three US ships participated in the airstrikes against the chemical weapons facilities maintained by the regime of Syria.
22 min ago
Iran's Supreme Leader calls air strikes "major crimes"
From CNN's Sara Mazloumsaki
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US and its allies of committing a "major crime" with its trilateral strikes on Syrian targets overnight, in a tweet on Saturday morning.
Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani condemned the US-led missile strikes, according to a report from Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency.
"The Americans imagine that they can change the conditions on the ground in Syria by such measures, but certainly this will not happen, " he is quoted by Fars as saying. "The US should account for the consequences of the future events in the region and certainly those events will not be to their interest."
"This morning’s attack on #Syria is a crime. I firmly declare that the Presidents of US and France and British PM committed a major crime. They will gain no benefit; just as they did not while in Iraq, Syria & Afghanistan, over the past years, committing the same criminal acts."
Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani condemned the US-led missile strikes, according to a report from Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency.
"The Americans imagine that they can change the conditions on the ground in Syria by such measures, but certainly this will not happen, " he is quoted by Fars as saying. "The US should account for the consequences of the future events in the region and certainly those events will not be to their interest."
31 min ago
EU supports all efforts to prevent use of chemical weapons
From CNN's Claudia Rebaza and Milena Veselinovic
The European Union is supportive of all efforts aimed at preventing the use of chemical weapons, its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a statement on Saturday.
She added that the EU reiterates its "strongest condemnation of the repeated use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, as confirmed by the OPCW/UN Joint Investigative Mechanism," including the most recent suspected chemical attack in Douma.
The statement said:
She added that the EU reiterates its "strongest condemnation of the repeated use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, as confirmed by the OPCW/UN Joint Investigative Mechanism," including the most recent suspected chemical attack in Douma.
The statement said:
"In this context, the EU was informed about targeted US, French and UK airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria, these specific measures having been taken with the sole objective to prevent further use of chemical weapons and chemical substances as weapons by the Syrian regime to kill its own people,"The EU has called on "all countries, notably Russia and Iran" to use their influence in preventing any further use of chemical weapons, according to the statement.
36 min ago
French FM: New intervention in Syria possible if red line crossed again
From CNN's Saskya Vandoorne in Paris
Undertaking new military action in Syria remains on the table should red lines be crossed again, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Saturday.
In an interview with the CNN affiliate BFMTV, Le Drian said there was "no doubt" there was a chemical attack in Douma, and that "chlorine was definitely used."
Le Drian said the objectives of Syria strikes have been met, a large part of Syria’s chemical arsenal has been destroyed, and all jets are back safely.
He added there is a need to continue talking to Russia, and that French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to St. Petersburg at the end of May will go ahead as planned.
43 min ago
Assad refuses to back off "fighting terrorism" in Syria
The president of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, said that Saturday’s airstrikes will not stop him from “fighting terrorism” across the country, according to Syria State Television.
According to Syria State TV, Assad said:
43 min ago
Rouhani: Iran will continue to stand by Syria
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has spoken to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani following trilateral airstrikes conducted by the United States, the United Kingdom and France which pummeled multiple targets in Syria, according to Syrian State TV.
During the phone call on Saturday, Rouhani added that "Iran will continue to stand by Syria," Syria State TV reported.
Meanwhile, Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Saturday that the country's Ministry of Health has offered to send medical aid to Syria should it be required.
1 hr 13 min ago
Not much is going to change in Syria
CNN's National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem said that she is not worried about the US being dragged into war, and that the allied airstrikes are unlikely to break the status quo in Syria.
1 hr 12 min ago
Germany supports strike on Syria by allies
While Germany did not join the US precision strikes on Syrian targets overnight (as the United Kingdom and France did), the country does support the action taken to deter the Syrian regime from using chemical weapons on its own citizens, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday morning.
In a statement released on the Bundestag website, Merkel said:
The military operation was necessary and appropriate to preserve the effectiveness of the international ban on the use of chemical weapons and to warn the Syrian regime of further violations.100 years after the end of the First World War, we are all called upon to counteract the erosion of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Germany will resolutely support all diplomatic action in this direction.
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