As previewed earlier tonight, the United States fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria on Friday morning in retaliation for this week"s alleged chemical weapons attack against civilians by the Assad regime, U.S. officials said. It was the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Donald Trump"s most dramatic military order since becoming president. According to NBC, only tomahawks missiles fired, no fixed wing aircraft involved, for now.
As AP notes, the surprise strike marked a striking reversal for Trump, who warned as a candidate against the U.S. getting pulled into the Syrian civil war, now in its seventh year. But the president appeared moved by the photos of children killed in the chemical attack, calling it a "disgrace to humanity" that crossed "a lot of lines."
The president did not announce the attacks in advance, though he and other national security officials ratcheted up their warnings to the Syrian government throughout the day Thursday.
The strike early Friday morning in Syria targeted hangars, planes and fuel tanks at one Syrian military airfield, according to a U.S. official. The U.S. attacked with about 60 Raytheon Co. Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from two Navy destroyers.
About 60 U.S. Tomahawk missiles, fired from warships in the Mediterranean Sea, targeted an air base in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that American officials believe Syrian government aircraft launched with a nerve agent; hangars, planes and fuel tanks were targeted, a U.S. official sais. Two Navy destroyers launched Raytheon missiles against Syria two days after Bashar al-Assad’s regime used poison gas to kill scores of civilians
MORE: Nearly 60 cruise missiles launched from ships in eastern Mediterranean aimed at locations around Syrian airfield, @CBSDavidMartin says pic.twitter.com/3Y5QZiScfh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 7, 2017
NBC adds that a high ranking administration official says foreign countries from Arab states to Canada supported tonight"s strikes vs. Syria.
The decision to strike in Syria marks a stark reversal for President Trump, who during his presidential campaign faulted past U.S. leaders for getting embroiled in conflicts in the Middle East
MORE: U.S launches cruise missiles from ships in Mediterranean, targeting single airfield in Syria, @CBSDavidMartin reports. pic.twitter.com/kAdM1DCEPL
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 7, 2017
The attack occurred while Trump was at his Florida estate after a dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they were to discuss what to do about North Korea’s nuclear program and U.S.-China trade disagreements. Traveling to Mar-a-Lago from Washington on Thursday, Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One about Assad, saying “what happened in Syria is a disgrace to humanity. And he’s there, and I guess he’s running things. So something should happen.”
It was not immediately clear if Trump"s action had been precleared with Putin in advance.
According to local reports, "32 Minutes ago about hearing Very Loud Sounds & Sky Was Lit up from Airbase He says Now Its "QUIET""
#Syria #Homs a #Syrian Civilian Posted 32 Minutes ago about hearing Very Loud Sounds & Sky Was Lit up from Airbase He says Now Its "QUIET" pic.twitter.com/a6Bwu2gyiF
— Ivan Sidorenko (@IvanSidorenko1) April 7, 2017
The market"s reaction was immediate:
- S&P 500 FUTURES ERASE GAINS AFTER U.S. LAUNCHES SYRIA STRIKE
- TREASURY 10-YR YIELD FALLS 4BPS TO 2.31% ON US STRIKES IN SYRIA
According to the local press pool at Mar-A-Lago, Trump is speaking to reporters now about air strike in Syria. It can"t be broadcast live because of technical restrictions at Mar-a-Lago. Expect a recording to be aired momentarily. Meanwhile, here are the key highlights from his brief speech via Reuters:
"Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on airfield in Syria from which the chemical attack was launched"
"Assad used deadly nerve gas to kill many."
"Tonight I call on all civilized nations in seeking to ender the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria"
"It is in the vital national security interests of the United States to prevent the spread and use of chemical weapon "
At the same time, Syrian state TV said that "American aggression targets Syrian military targets with a number of missiles."
Rand Paul who has been vocally against any strikes, opined on twitter:
While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 7, 2017
The President needs Congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 7, 2017
Our prior interventions in this region have done nothing to make us safer and Syria will be no different.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 7, 2017
The Pentagon reports that it informed Russia ahead of the missile strike.
For now, the attack appears to be over with ABC quoting a U.S. official after U.S. missiles fired at Syrian airbase who said: “We’re done until another decision is made.
MORE: U.S. official after U.S. missiles fired at Syrian airbase: “We’re done until another decision is made.” https://t.co/b7yCiEe6C8
— ABC News (@ABC) April 7, 2017
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