SHELLED TO HELL
Syria air strike video ‘shows smouldering chemical weapons lab’ after US and UK bombing strikes avenging Assad gas attacks
THIS is the first footage to emerge showing a bombed out chemical plant in Syria after a night of crippling Western airstrikes in response to the poison gas attack on civilians in Douma.
The video, released by Russian government-controlled Sputnik News, shows pulverised buildings which are reportedly the remains of a research facility in Damascus after a cruise missile blitz reduced targets across the country to rubble.
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The RAF had joined US and French forces in unleashing a blitz on evil Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities after a poison gas attack that killed at least 75 people last week.
As the airstrikes got under way at 2am Syrian time, Donald Trump appeared on TV to announce the military coalition's response to the "evil and despicable crimes of a monster".
More than 100 airstrikes were launched in a "one-time shot" - more than double the firepower of the US airstrike on a Syrian base last year.
Taking to Twitter the following morning, Trump announced "Mission Accomplished", praised "a perfectly executed strike" and thanked France and Britain for their part.
A meeting of the UN Security Council was held this afternoon where the coalition briefed other allies on the air strikes.
Nikki Haley, the US Representative to the UN, said: "The targets we selected were at the heart of the Syrian regime's illegal weapons programme.
"The US is locked and loaded. When our President draws a red line, he enforces the red line."
What we know so far:
- US, UK and French launched airstrikes on Syria in revenge for 'evil' chemical attack
- Pentagon confirms 105 missiles were launched against several facilities
- RAF Tornado jets bomb Syria chemical weapons factory in Homs with Storm Shadow missiles in strikes that saw 105 missiles launched against several facilities
- Tomahawk missiles were fired from a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Mediterranean, while French military also launched cruise missiles from warship
- Syrian media says three civilians were injured in 'a flagrant violation of international law'
- Trump tweeted that the raid were 'perfectly executed'
- PM Theresa May says the attack was 'absolutely in Britain's national interest'
- Jeremy Corbyn, called the strikes 'legally questionable'
- Putin warns of 'consequences' for an 'act of aggression' that had 'destructive influence on the entire system of international relations'
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US, UK and France launch air strikes in Syria in response to chemical attack
French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “A large part of its chemical arsenal has been destroyed.
“A lot has been destroyed in last night's strikes.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said it was "right and legal" to order cruise missile strikes against Syria in light of evidence that Assad's regime was behind the chemical attack outrage in the besieged town of Douma.
Speaking at Downing Street press conference, Mrs May said the aim was to deter the Syrian authorities from further chemical attacks and to send a message to the wider world that using the weapons was unacceptable.
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The PM said there was "no practicable alternative to the use of force" after Donald Trump announced the retaliation to reports of chemical attacks.
Britain used four Royal Air Force Tornados which they launched from the British RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus to attack a chemical weapons facility in Homs.
Because the jets were using Storm Shadow missiles the warplanes were able to stay clear of Syria's air defence radar.
At the same American Forces deployed B-1B Lancer bombers from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Tomahawk missiles also blasted off from the guided missile destroyer USS Monterey anchored in the Mediterranean.
France used Mirage and Rafale fighter jets, from a base in Jordan, and four of its frigate warships fired off 12 cruise missiles.
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Speaking to reporters this morning, Mrs May said the military strikes on Syria were "limited and targeted" and designed to degrade the Syrian regime's ability to develop and use chemical weapons.
She said: "It was both right and legal to take military action together with our closest allies to alleviate further humanitarian suffering by degrading the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability.
"We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised - either within Syria, on the streets of the UK or elsewhere."
We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised - either within Syria, on the streets of the UK or elsewhere
British Prime Minister Theresa May
Asked if the strikes had also been a warning to Russia, the PM said: "The action that took place last night was an action which was focused on degrading and deterring the operational capability and the willingness of the Syrian regime to continue to use chemical weapons.
"There have been many instances when we have seen them using those chemical weapons.
"But I believe it should also be a message to others that the international community is not going to stand by and allow chemical weapons to be used with impunity."
Mrs May said chemical weapons had "all too often" been used in recent times.
"I think it is right that the international community has come together and said we will not accept this," she added.
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Air raid sirens in Syria during the RAF, US and French airforce strikes
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Footage appears to show missiles and explosions in the Syrian capital Damascus causing power outage
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The Pentagon said the strikes on three sites were "precise, overwhelming and effective" although it admitted there were many other chemical weapons facilities they did not hit.
Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, of the US Department of Defence, said: "None of our aircraft or missiles involved in this operation were successfully engaged by Syrian air defences."
Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said the airstrikes had been launched to "cripple Syria's ability to use chemical weapons in the future" and had "successfully hit every target".
Ms White insisted the strikes did not "represent a change in US policy or an attempt to depose the Syrian regime" and that the US focus was to defeat ISIS.
She said: "Civilisations cannot let what happened in Syria stand. We cannot allow such grievous violations of international law."
The Pentagon says a Russian "disinformation campaign" has already begun with a 2,000 per cent increase in Russian trolls in the past 24 hours.
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Pentagon briefing on three chemical weapons targets hit by coalition strikes in Syria
French president Emmanuel Macron said in a statement this morning it was beyond doubt that the Syrian regime were guilty of using chemical weapons against its own people.
He said: "I therefore ordered the French armed forces to intervene tonight, as part of an international operation in coalition with the United States of America and the United Kingdom and directed against the clandestine chemical arsenal of the Syrian regime.
"Our response has been limited to the capabilities of the Syrian regime relating to the production and use of chemical weapons.
"We can not tolerate the trivialisation of the use of chemical weapons, which is an immediate danger for the Syrian people and for our collective security."
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Nato Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg said this morning: "I support the actions taken by the United States, the United Kingdom and France against the Syrian regime's chemical weapons facilities and capabilities.
"This will reduce the regime's ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons.
"Nato has consistently condemned Syria's continued use of chemical weapons as a clear breach of international norms and agreements.
"The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable."
In a statement the EU called upon all countries, notably Russia and Iran, to use their influence to prevent any further use of chemical weapons, notably by the Syrian regime.
The USS Monterey cruiser launches Tomahawk missiles at Syria as part of the allied strike
Russian president Vladimir Putin said the attacks were an "act of aggression" that would have a "destructive" influence on international relations.
But Labour leader and committed pacifist Jeremy Corbyn also slammed the strikes, claiming they were legally questionable and arguing the Prime Minster should have sought parliamentary approval.
The committed anti-war campaigner - turned leader of the opposition - said Britain should not be "taking instructions from Washington and putting British military personnel in harm's way".
Mrs May will appear before the House of Commons on Monday to explain her decision on joining the airstrikes.
Jeremy Corbyn says bombing strikes on Syria were illegal
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Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said his fellow security council members were “hooligans” for carrying out the strikes, accusing them of shedding "crocodile tears" over ordinary Syrians' suffering.
He said: "In a sign of cynical disdain a group of western countries decided to take action.
"It was shameful to hear how in justifying the aggression an article of the US constitution was mentioned.
"All this is based on a scheme which has been well tried.
“This is how you want international affairs to be conducted now? This is hooliganism."
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the US-led airstrikes on Syria a "military crime".
In a speech, Khamene said: "Today's dawn attack on Syria is a crime. I clearly declare that the president of the United States, the president of France and the British prime minister are criminals.
"They will not benefit (from the attack) as they went to Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan in the past years and committed such crimes and did not gain any benefits."
Iran has been Assad's most supportive ally against insurgents throughout the conflict.
It has backed militias and helped stem rebel advances and, following Russia's entry into the war in 2015, helped turn the tide of the civil war that has so far killed at least
Meanwhile a bizarre video appeared on Syrian state-controlled TV showing Assad calmly turning for work clutching a brief case in piece of propaganda clearly designed to show it was business as usual for the embattled leader.
The Syrian Presidency official Twitter account has posted a video which appears to who Assad arriving for work just hours after the US launched its airstrike
Just hours before, Assad's nemesis, Donald Trump, appeared on TV to announce the airstrikes.
He said: "A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
"The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons.
"This evil and despicable act left mothers and fathers and children thrashing in pain and gasping for air."
He also sent a stern message to Iran and Russia, with some fearing rising tensions could lead to World War 3.
"What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children," he said.
"No nation can succeed by promoting rogue states and dictators."
He added: "Russia must decide whether to continue on this dark path or come back to civilisation."
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President Donald Trump sends a message to Iran and Russia and calls out President Putin for not keeping his promises
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General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing the first of the allied strikes was at a scientific research centre in greater Damascus involved in the development and production of chemical weapons.
The second was at a chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs, while the third was a storage facility and important command post.
He added: "Important infrastructure was destroyed which will result in a setback for the Syrian regime.
"They will lose years of research and development, storage and equipment."
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Defence Secretary James Mattis said earlier the US and its allies had taken "decisive action" against Syrian chemical weapons infrastructure.
He briefed reporters at the Pentagon Friday an hour after President Donald Trump announced the strike.
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Mattis says the United States, along with France and the United Kingdom, struck because Syrian President Bashar Assad "did not get the message" when the U.S. launched airstrikes after a chemical attack in 2017.
The Ministry of Defence said it believed the attack was a "success".
But Syrian state media said three innocent civilians were wounded in the missile attack.
Night scope video shows missiles over Damascus as US-led coalition launches air strikes after chemical attack in Syria
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President Donald Trump says Russia must decide which side to take and says the US has a lot to offer
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “We will not stand by whilst innocent civilians, including women and children, are killed and made to suffer.
“The international community has responded decisively with legal and proportionate military force."
Mrs May’s Cabinet gave the green light to join the US military action after a two-hour meeting.
We revealed yesterday how the President wants to wage an all-out blitz on up to EIGHT targets in Syria - after US officials said they had proof Bashar al Assad gassed his own people.
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Sources in the US claimed America was considering striking a number of sites including two Syrian airfields, a research centre and a chemical weapons facility.
The revelation came as two US officials said blood and urine samples from some of the 70 victims of the deadly chemical attack in Douma last weekend showed traces of chlorine gas and a nerve agent – most likely Sarin.
French President Emmanuel Macron separately insisted the West had “proof” Assad was behind the Douma massacre.
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President Donald Trump condemns Syrian chemical attacks and calls them 'crimes of a monster'
And he said France and the US would decide on a response “at a time of our choosing, when we judge it to be the most useful and the most effective”.
Anti-terror squads have been deployed around New York for fear of terror reprisals.
Tory MPs also told The Sun they would back military strikes – including a number of Tories who voted against action in 2013. Two US Navy destroyers armeed with Tomahawk cruise missles are in position as well as jets and subs.
Sources in the Middle East said Bashar al Assad had left his palace in Syria for Iran – his close ally alongside Russia.
Syria’s military was also said to be moving jets to Russian-controlled airfields in the hopes that Washington would leave these alone.
In a sign of a desperate attempt to stop any reprisals escalating into a full blown war, the Kremlin said a hotline between Russian and US military in Syria was “active”.
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Russia also stepped up a frantic round of diplomacy with Vladimir Putin ringing both Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Israeli PM Benjamin Nethanyahu.
Last night Russia called an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council for today.
Russia’s UN ambassador said his top diplomatic priority was to avert a full conflict, though he didn’t rule it out.
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