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| Syria war: US launches missile strikes in response to chemical 'attack' | Syria war: US launches missile strikes in response to chemical 'attack' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has carried out a missile attack against an air base in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town. | |
| The Pentagon said at 04:40 Syrian time (01:40 GMT), 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean. | |
| In a televised address, President Donald Trump said the base was where Tuesday's attack was launched from. | In a televised address, President Donald Trump said the base was where Tuesday's attack was launched from. |
| He called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria. | He called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria. |
| Dozens of civilians, including many children, died in the suspected nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. | Dozens of civilians, including many children, died in the suspected nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. |
| Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President Trump branded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "dictator" who had "launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians". | Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President Trump branded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "dictator" who had "launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians". |
| "Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end this slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types," he said. | "Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end this slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types," he said. |
| "We hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will in the end prevail." | "We hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will in the end prevail." |
| The Pentagon said Russia, which is supporting the Syrian military, had been informed ahead of the US attack. | The Pentagon said Russia, which is supporting the Syrian military, had been informed ahead of the US attack. |
| It said missiles fired from Navy destroyers USS Porter and USS Ross had targeted aircraft, aircraft shelters, storage areas, ammunition supply bunkers, air defence systems, and radars at the Shayrat airfield. | |
| The statement added that the strike was intended "to deter the regime from using chemical weapons again". | |
| Analysis: Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor | |
| Rarely has a policy changed so far and so quickly - and rarely has it been acted upon so swiftly. | |
| When President Trump came to office the Syrian leader was seen as a useful ally in the fight against so-called Islamic State. All talk of regime change stopped. | |
| But the chemical weapons attack changed all that. Within two days, the US has reversed its view on President Assad, identified targets and struck. | |
| What we don't know is whether this is a one-off act of retaliation, or the start of something more prolonged against the Assad government. Nor do we know where it leaves relations with Syria's strong ally, Russia. | |
| A White House spokesman said the site targeted by the cruise missiles "was directly linked to the horrific chemical weapons attack". | A White House spokesman said the site targeted by the cruise missiles "was directly linked to the horrific chemical weapons attack". |
| "We assess with a high degree of confidence that the chemical weapons attack earlier this week was launched from this site by air assets under the command of the Assad regime," the official said. | "We assess with a high degree of confidence that the chemical weapons attack earlier this week was launched from this site by air assets under the command of the Assad regime," the official said. |
| "We also assess, with a similar degree of confidence, that the Assad regime used a chemical nerve agent consistent with Sarin in these attacks." | "We also assess, with a similar degree of confidence, that the Assad regime used a chemical nerve agent consistent with Sarin in these attacks." |
| A statement on Syrian state TV said "American aggression" had targeted a Syrian military base with "a number of missiles" but gave no further details. | A statement on Syrian state TV said "American aggression" had targeted a Syrian military base with "a number of missiles" but gave no further details. |
| President Trump had earlier warned that "something should happen" against the Syrian leadership following the deaths in Khan Sheikhoun, but gave no details. | President Trump had earlier warned that "something should happen" against the Syrian leadership following the deaths in Khan Sheikhoun, but gave no details. |
| Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signalled a sudden shift in policy by the Trump administration, saying that Bashar al-Assad should have no role in a future Syria. | Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signalled a sudden shift in policy by the Trump administration, saying that Bashar al-Assad should have no role in a future Syria. |
| Only last week the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington was no longer prioritising the removal of the Syrian president. | Only last week the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington was no longer prioritising the removal of the Syrian president. |