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State news: Syrian air defenses downed 'most' of the 110 missiles
The General Command of the Syrian Arab Army announced that "most" of the 110 missiles fired by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Britain were shot down, according to the country's state-run agency, SANA.
Some missiles hit a research center in Barzzeh in Damascus, but these damages were described as "limited to material ones."
Three civilians in Homs were killed by missiles "forced to deviate from their track," the military claimed.
SANA quoted the military as saying, "this aggression will lead to nothing, but to increase the Syrian people determination to defend the sovereignty, dignity and the security of homeland and citizens."
10 a.m.
British warplanes strike Homs base
Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility in Homs, claiming its where the regime stockpiled chemical weapons.
"The reprehensible use of chemical weapons in Douma is further evidence of the Syrian regime's appalling cruelty against its own people. We will not stand by whilst innocent civilians, including women and children, are killed and made to suffer," stated British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
British, American, and French forces launched their coordinated strikes at 4 a.m. (Damascus time).
"Let these united actions send a clear message to the regime – the use of chemical weapons is categorically unacceptable and you will be held to account," added Williamson.
France: The Russians were warned
"We are not looking for confrontation. And we refuse any idea of a military escalation. This is the reason why with our allies, we ensured that the Russians were warned ahead of time," said France's Defence Minister Florence Parly.
She revealed the operation combined navy and air force.
"Multi mission frigates accompanied by building and support protection have been deployed on the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, an aerial raid left, at the beginning of the night from several aerial bases in France to reach the Syrian coasts. These different means launched, in perfect coordination, cruise missiles on planned targets, this in close synchronisation with our American and British allies," explained Parly.
She was speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Jean Yves le Drian.
This night at 0300 a.m. Paris time (0100GMT), by the order of the President of the Republic, the French military forces, in close coordination with American and British military, have launched an operation in Syria," he said. This operation targeted objectives belonging to the clandestine chemical programme of Syria.
"The main research centre of this programme and two important production sites have been struck. Through these targets, it is the capacity of Syria to develop, to produce, chemical weapons that has been hit."
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9:15 a.m.
US: Strikes targeted 'chemical weapons research, development, production
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said the strikes were conducted "with our allies to destroy the Syrian regime's chemical weapons research development and production capability."
He called the strikes a “one time shot."
Mattis claimed Washington, Paris, and London went to great length to avoid "civilian and foreign casualties."
He described the strikes as "harder" than last year in Khan Sheikhoun, when "the Assad regime did not get the message."
"Together we have sent a clear message to Assad and his murderous lieutenants that they should not perpetrate another chemical weapons attack for which they will be held accountable," said Mattis.
President Trump repeatedly warned of strikes if actions in the United Nations stalled.
"But it is a time for all civilized nations to urgently unite and ending the Syrian civil war by supporting the United Nations-backed Geneva Peace Process," said the defense head.
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9:15 a.m.
The government of Assad condemns the attacks
"The tripartite aggression showed again the recklessness of the hostile countries with the international legitimacy," Syria's state-run SANA new agency reported, citing an unnamed official source at the foreign ministry.
The source blamed the aggression on "western arrogance" and the "failure of the conspiratorial project" after the Syrian Arab Army defeated "terrorist organizations."
Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is shown on the morning of April 14, 2018 after strikes by France, the UK, and the US. Video: AP
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State news: Syrian air defenses downed 'most' of the 110 missiles
The General Command of the Syrian Arab Army announced that "most" of the 110 missiles fired by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Britain were shot down, according to the country's state-run agency, SANA.
Some missiles hit a research center in Barzzeh in Damascus, but these damages were described as "limited to material ones."
Three civilians in Homs were killed by missiles "forced to deviate from their track," the military claimed.
SANA quoted the military as saying, "this aggression will lead to nothing, but to increase the Syrian people determination to defend the sovereignty, dignity and the security of homeland and citizens."
10 a.m.
British warplanes strike Homs base
Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility in Homs, claiming its where the regime stockpiled chemical weapons.
"The reprehensible use of chemical weapons in Douma is further evidence of the Syrian regime's appalling cruelty against its own people. We will not stand by whilst innocent civilians, including women and children, are killed and made to suffer," stated British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
British, American, and French forces launched their coordinated strikes at 4 a.m. (Damascus time).
"Let these united actions send a clear message to the regime – the use of chemical weapons is categorically unacceptable and you will be held to account," added Williamson.
France: The Russians were warned
"We are not looking for confrontation. And we refuse any idea of a military escalation. This is the reason why with our allies, we ensured that the Russians were warned ahead of time," said France's Defence Minister Florence Parly.
She revealed the operation combined navy and air force.
"Multi mission frigates accompanied by building and support protection have been deployed on the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, an aerial raid left, at the beginning of the night from several aerial bases in France to reach the Syrian coasts. These different means launched, in perfect coordination, cruise missiles on planned targets, this in close synchronisation with our American and British allies," explained Parly.
She was speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Jean Yves le Drian.
This night at 0300 a.m. Paris time (0100GMT), by the order of the President of the Republic, the French military forces, in close coordination with American and British military, have launched an operation in Syria," he said. This operation targeted objectives belonging to the clandestine chemical programme of Syria.
"The main research centre of this programme and two important production sites have been struck. Through these targets, it is the capacity of Syria to develop, to produce, chemical weapons that has been hit."
------
9:15 a.m.
US: Strikes targeted 'chemical weapons research, development, production
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said the strikes were conducted "with our allies to destroy the Syrian regime's chemical weapons research development and production capability."
He called the strikes a “one time shot."
Mattis claimed Washington, Paris, and London went to great length to avoid "civilian and foreign casualties."
He described the strikes as "harder" than last year in Khan Sheikhoun, when "the Assad regime did not get the message."
"Together we have sent a clear message to Assad and his murderous lieutenants that they should not perpetrate another chemical weapons attack for which they will be held accountable," said Mattis.
President Trump repeatedly warned of strikes if actions in the United Nations stalled.
"But it is a time for all civilized nations to urgently unite and ending the Syrian civil war by supporting the United Nations-backed Geneva Peace Process," said the defense head.
------
9:15 a.m.
The government of Assad condemns the attacks
"The tripartite aggression showed again the recklessness of the hostile countries with the international legitimacy," Syria's state-run SANA new agency reported, citing an unnamed official source at the foreign ministry.
The source blamed the aggression on "western arrogance" and the "failure of the conspiratorial project" after the Syrian Arab Army defeated "terrorist organizations."
Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is shown on the morning of April 14, 2018 after strikes by France, the UK, and the US. Video: AP
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