World
Live updates: US, UK and France launch strikes on Syria
US President Donald Trump said that the joint strikes with France and the UK were in retaliation to the alleged use of chemical weapons in a suburb in Damascus by Syrian forces last week
Photo courtesy: @JacobAWohl\Twitter Smoke billows out at one of the sites in Damascus struck by US missiles in the morning hours of April 14
Russia to call an emergency session of the UN Security Council over US-led strikes on Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin terms US strikes on Syria a violation of international law, reports Russia Today
Iran says that the US-led strikes on Syria will have “regional consequences.” "The United States and its allies have no proof and, without even waiting for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to take a position, have carried out this military attack ... and are responsible for the regional consequences," Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi reportedly said.
While UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres termed the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime as “abhorrent,” he urged global powers to exercise restraint. “The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. I call on the members of the Security Council to unite and exercise that responsibility. I urge all Member States to show restraint in these dangerous circumstances and to avoid any acts that could escalate the situation and worsen the suffering of the Syrian people,” Guterres said in a statement.
British defence secretary Gavin Williamson has said that the strike on Syria has "significantly reduced" the likelihood of the Syrian regime using chemical weapons again.
At least one US Navy warship sailing around Red Sea involved in strikes, as per media reports
"Even this week, the Russians vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council that would have established an independent investigation into the Douma attack," says Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May in a video statement, as she hit out at Moscow
French President Emmanuel Macron issues a statement on the launches.
Russian ambassador to US Anatoly Antonov says "such actions would not be left without consequences," according to news reports.
"We launched precision strikes on targets associated with chemical weapon capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad," Trump said
Pentagon says that the strikes were a "one-time shot" and no additional launches were planned. "Right now, this is a one-time shot and I believe it sent a very strong message," US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said during a press briefing.
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram
Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines
Published: 14 Apr 2018, 8:46 AM IST