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Syria bombing: Russia PM calls Trump's airstrike 'good news for terrorists' – live Syria bombing: Russia PM calls Trump's airstrike 'good news for terrorists' – live
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Trump’s airstrike is a convenient U-turn from a president who can’t be trusted, writes Jonathan Freedland.
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Britain’s UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft: Assad has been 'put on notice'
Britain’s UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft has said Assad has been “put on notice” by the US airstrike, describing it as a “proportionate response to unspeakable acts.”
“Without Russia’s seven vetoes in the Security Council, defying the views of other members of this council, Assad would not have faced sanctions and justice,” Rycroft told the 15-member council.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports the “strong and clear message” sent by the US airstrike.
The Israeli military said it had been informed in advance of the strike. “In both word and action, President Trump sent a strong and clear message today that the use and spread of chemical weapons will not be tolerated,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said. “Israel fully supports President Trump’s decision and hopes that this message of resolve in the face of the Assad regime’s horrific actions will resonate not only in Damascus, but in Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere.”
Hours after those remarks, US Vice President Mike Pence called the Israeli premier and thanked him in Trump’s name for the Israeli support of the American attack in Syria, Netanyahu’s office said. Pence also “updated Netanyahu on the details of the attack and its outcome”, it said.
“Netanyahu reiterated the need to prevent the distribution and use of chemical weapons,” his office said.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared in the House of Commons on Friday, saying the US attack on Syria was “necessary”, writes Julien Gignac.
“In the face of heinous war crimes, all civilised peoples must speak with one voice,” he said. “That is why Canada fully supports in the United States’ limited, focused action to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to launch such attacks.”
An ongoing push for diplomatic efforts was asserted. “We know that long term solutions for Syria have to go by way of diplomacy,” he said.
Trudeau said he spoke with President Donald Trump this morning, emphasising “that Canada agrees that Assad’s repeated use of chemical weapons must not continue.”
Trudeau stated he was informed of the US offensive about an hour in advance.
“We emphasised that we certainly believe that the Assad regime needs to be held to account against its civilians, particularly the use of chemical weapons against children and innocents, and further degrading their capacity to continue such attacks is in the interest of the entire international community and the path to peace for Syria,” he said.
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This photo was taken immediately after the US airstrike, and shows Trump receiving a briefing on Syria from his national security team while in Mar-a-Lago.
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Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev: US strike 'good news for terrorists'Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev: US strike 'good news for terrorists'
In a post on Facebook, Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has written about “completely ruined relations” between Russia and the US. He said: In a post on Facebook, the Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, has written about “completely ruined relations” between Russia and the US. He said:
That’s it. The last remaining election fog has lifted. Instead of an overworked statement about a joint fight against the biggest enemy, ISIS (the Islamic State), the Trump administration proved that it will fiercely fight the legitimate Syrian government, in a tough contradiction with international law and without UN approval, in violation of its own procedures stipulating that the Congress must first be notified of any military operation unrelated to aggression against the US. On the verge of a military clash with Russia. That’s it. The last remaining election fog has lifted. Instead of an overworked statement about a joint fight against the biggest enemy, Isis (Islamic State), the Trump administration proved that it will fiercely fight the legitimate Syrian government, in a tough contradiction with international law and without UN approval, in violation of its own procedures stipulating that the Congress must first be notified of any military operation unrelated to aggression against the US. On the verge of a military clash with Russia.
Nobody is overestimating the value of pre-election promises but there must be limits of decency. Beyond that is absolute mistrust. Which is really sad for our now completely ruined relations. And which is good news for terrorists. Nobody is overestimating the value of pre-election promises, but there must be limits of decency. Beyond that is absolute mistrust. Which is really sad for our now completely ruined relations. And which is good news for terrorists.
One more thing. This military action is a clear indication of the US president’s extreme dependency on the opinion of the Washington establishment, the one that the new president strongly criticised in his inauguration speech. Soon after his victory, I noted that everything would depend on how soon Trump’s election promises would be broken by the existing power machine. It took only two and a half months.One more thing. This military action is a clear indication of the US president’s extreme dependency on the opinion of the Washington establishment, the one that the new president strongly criticised in his inauguration speech. Soon after his victory, I noted that everything would depend on how soon Trump’s election promises would be broken by the existing power machine. It took only two and a half months.
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Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has said the US insisted that the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council be held in the open so that “any country that chooses to defend the atrocities of the Syrian regime will have to do in full public view, for all the world to hear.” Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has said the US had insisted that the emergency meeting of the UN security council be held in the open so that “any country that chooses to defend the atrocities of the Syrian regime will have to do in full public view, for all the world to hear”.
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Muhammed AlRuru, 35, from Khan Sheikhun, told Mona Mahmood:Muhammed AlRuru, 35, from Khan Sheikhun, told Mona Mahmood:
I live almost 200m west of where the chemical attack took place. I saw a yellow cloud when I was releasing my sheep. I ran first to the basement, but after 10 minutes I and other locals headed to find out if there were any victims.I live almost 200m west of where the chemical attack took place. I saw a yellow cloud when I was releasing my sheep. I ran first to the basement, but after 10 minutes I and other locals headed to find out if there were any victims.
I saw my cousin, Usama, lying on the floor. I threw some water on him and stopped one of the cars to take him to a makeshift medical spot. It seems that Usama went to check on his brother’s family but he inhaled some gas and collapsed.I saw my cousin, Usama, lying on the floor. I threw some water on him and stopped one of the cars to take him to a makeshift medical spot. It seems that Usama went to check on his brother’s family but he inhaled some gas and collapsed.
My children were also affected – they were vomiting and their eyes were red, but they are OK. I kept going to the site with other locals searching for survivors.My children were also affected – they were vomiting and their eyes were red, but they are OK. I kept going to the site with other locals searching for survivors.
The situation is difficult here, there are some moments when we envy those who had died especially when the warplanes show on the skies. The kids are terrified, and we can’t do anything.The situation is difficult here, there are some moments when we envy those who had died especially when the warplanes show on the skies. The kids are terrified, and we can’t do anything.
After the attack, I took part in burying more than 28 victims. I do not find it easy to go back again to the bereaved site, it is very painful to walk among the relatives of the victims who are busy checking who is dead or who is still alive. It is a human disaster by all means and we do not know when the machine of death in Syria will stop.After the attack, I took part in burying more than 28 victims. I do not find it easy to go back again to the bereaved site, it is very painful to walk among the relatives of the victims who are busy checking who is dead or who is still alive. It is a human disaster by all means and we do not know when the machine of death in Syria will stop.
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Mustafa Muhammed Ieed al-Azreq, 30, from Khan Sheikhun, told the Guardian’s Mona Mahmood about Tuesday’s attack. He said:Mustafa Muhammed Ieed al-Azreq, 30, from Khan Sheikhun, told the Guardian’s Mona Mahmood about Tuesday’s attack. He said:
I’m a Maths teacher at a high school in Khan Sheikhoun. I was sleeping at home when I heard a sound of a warplane and then four bangs. I ran to the roof to see what was going on. I saw that the attack was almost 300m from where I live. I’m a maths teacher at a high school in Khan Sheikhun. I was sleeping at home when I heard a sound of a warplane and then four bangs. I ran to the roof to see what was going on. I saw that the attack was almost 300m from where I live.
I ran down to check the website that we, locals of Khan Sheikhun, have set up to warn each other of any possible arial attack.I ran down to check the website that we, locals of Khan Sheikhun, have set up to warn each other of any possible arial attack.
The page started to warn people not to go nearby the site of the attack to avoid inhaling the poisonous gas. The situation was terrible, but still I could not stop myself running inside attacked houses, breaking the doors and taking out the victims with some other volunteers.The page started to warn people not to go nearby the site of the attack to avoid inhaling the poisonous gas. The situation was terrible, but still I could not stop myself running inside attacked houses, breaking the doors and taking out the victims with some other volunteers.
When I broke into one of the houses, I saw a guy was lying unconscious on stairs, some others in the centre of the house. We took them out but I myself inhaled some of the poisonous gas, the smoke was above our head and we were full of grief at the horrible scenes.When I broke into one of the houses, I saw a guy was lying unconscious on stairs, some others in the centre of the house. We took them out but I myself inhaled some of the poisonous gas, the smoke was above our head and we were full of grief at the horrible scenes.
We started to suck the poison out of the victims by mouth to mouth resuscitation, to help save their lives. We started to suck the poison out of the victims by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, to help save their lives.
I did that procedure with three victims till I myself started to feel dizzy and my head was spinning. I evacuated seven kids, by chance one of them was still alive and breathing. His name is Mustafa al-Khalid, 15. I felt the pulse in his hand while all the other seven member of his family had died in the house. I put him in my own car and took him to the nearest medical centre where I myself fainted later.I did that procedure with three victims till I myself started to feel dizzy and my head was spinning. I evacuated seven kids, by chance one of them was still alive and breathing. His name is Mustafa al-Khalid, 15. I felt the pulse in his hand while all the other seven member of his family had died in the house. I put him in my own car and took him to the nearest medical centre where I myself fainted later.
I have my son, my two brothers and parents living with me, they all went to another village to escape the gas. The warplanes are still hovering on Khan Sheikhun where you can smell only death. It is a death without blood.I have my son, my two brothers and parents living with me, they all went to another village to escape the gas. The warplanes are still hovering on Khan Sheikhun where you can smell only death. It is a death without blood.
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Lebanon’s Hezbollah has said the US airstrikes in Syria are a “foolish” move that will lead to serious regional tensions.Lebanon’s Hezbollah has said the US airstrikes in Syria are a “foolish” move that will lead to serious regional tensions.
Hezbollah, which supports Assad, said in a statement the strike would not demoralise the Syrian army or negatively affect its allies. It added the US military action was a “service” to Israel and its “ambitions in the region”.Hezbollah, which supports Assad, said in a statement the strike would not demoralise the Syrian army or negatively affect its allies. It added the US military action was a “service” to Israel and its “ambitions in the region”.
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Donald Trump has jumped into a quagmire with his eyes shut, writes Richard Wolffe.Donald Trump has jumped into a quagmire with his eyes shut, writes Richard Wolffe.
It may be hard to believe, but Donald Trump is even more simplistic than George W Bush in matters of war. George W Bush enjoyed all the certainty of a very simple man: you were either with us or against us, good or evil, marching for democracy or plotting terrorist attacks.It may be hard to believe, but Donald Trump is even more simplistic than George W Bush in matters of war. George W Bush enjoyed all the certainty of a very simple man: you were either with us or against us, good or evil, marching for democracy or plotting terrorist attacks.
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UN secretary general António Guterres appeals for restraintUN secretary general António Guterres appeals for restraint
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has appealed to parties involved in the Syrian conflict for restraint to avoid adding to the suffering of Syria’s people.The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has appealed to parties involved in the Syrian conflict for restraint to avoid adding to the suffering of Syria’s people.
“Mindful of the risk of escalation, I appeal for restraint to avoid any acts that could deepen the suffering of the Syrian people,” he said in a statement.“Mindful of the risk of escalation, I appeal for restraint to avoid any acts that could deepen the suffering of the Syrian people,” he said in a statement.
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US lawmakers from both parties have backed the airstrikes on Syria and urged Trump to spell out a broader strategy for dealing with the conflict.US lawmakers from both parties have backed the airstrikes on Syria and urged Trump to spell out a broader strategy for dealing with the conflict.
“I am hopeful these strikes will convince the Assad regime that such actions should never be repeated,” said Senator Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat.“I am hopeful these strikes will convince the Assad regime that such actions should never be repeated,” said Senator Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat.
But Warner, who said he had been briefed on the strikes by Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, urged Trump, a Republican, to lay out his plans for the multi-sided Syria conflict. “President Trump has said repeatedly that his objective in Syria is to defeat [Islamic State militants]. Last night’s strike was aimed at a different objective,” he said in a statement. “President Trump needs to articulate a coherent strategy for dealing with this complex conflict, because the consequences of a misstep are grave.” But Warner, who said he had been briefed on the strikes by the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, urged Trump, a Republican, to lay out his plans for the multi-sided Syria conflict. “President Trump has said repeatedly that his objective in Syria is to defeat [Islamic State militants]. Last night’s strike was aimed at a different objective,” he said in a statement. “President Trump needs to articulate a coherent strategy for dealing with this complex conflict, because the consequences of a misstep are grave.”
Armed Services Committee chairman, Senator John McCain, who has long called for more aggressive action against Assad, told MSNBC “the signal I think that was sent last night ... was a very, very important one.” But the Arizona Republican said “despite all the enthusiasm we see this morning, if I might quote Churchill, it’s the end of the beginning not the beginning of the end.” The armed services committee chairman, Senator John McCain, who has long called for more aggressive action against Assad, told MSNBC: “The signal I think that was sent last night ... was a very, very important one.” But the Arizona Republican also said: “Despite all the enthusiasm we see this morning, if I might quote Churchill, it’s the end of the beginning not the beginning of the end.”
Trump, McCain added, should be “prepared to take other action,” including establishing safe zones within Syria and further arming and training of anti-Assad rebels. Trump, McCain added, should be “prepared to take other action”, including establishing safe zones within Syria and further arming and training of anti-Assad rebels.
Several lawmakers said Trump should seek Congress’ approval if he decides to take additional military action in Syria. Senator Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, said the strikes in Syria could send a message to other US adversaries such as North Korea. “I think the time has come for some of these countries to be worried about us a little bit, not us always worried about what they might do,” Rubio told Fox News. Several lawmakers said Trump should seek the approval of Congress if he decides to take additional military action in Syria. Senator Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, said the strikes in Syria could send a message to other US adversaries such as North Korea. “I think the time has come for some of these countries to be worried about us a little bit, not us always worried about what they might do,” Rubio told Fox News.
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Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting for a second day at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as planned Friday, AP reports.
Their first-night summit dinner wrapped up shortly before the US announced the missile barrage on an air base in Syria last night.
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The chair of the United Nations Association UK has questioned the wisdom of the US hit on Shayrat airbase. Stewart Wood said: “It’s unclear how US air strikes will make civilians safer.”
In a blog post, Lord Wood of Anfield wrote: “Unilateral action without broad international backing through the UN, without a clear strategy for safeguarding civilians, and through military escalation risks further deepening and exacerbating an already protracted and horrific conflict, leaving civilians at greater, not lesser, risk of atrocities.”
He added that by circumventing the UN “we reduce both legitimacy and effectiveness, as a course of action that does not have the broad support of regional powers and the international community, channelled through UN systems and processes, can have little chance of success in leading to a more stable Syria”.
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GENEVA (AP) _ UN Syria envoy tells AP his office is in `crisis mode' after US strike, calls emergency meeting in Geneva.
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Nadia Khomami
The situation in Syria “amounts to an international armed conflict” following the US airstrike on a Syrian airbase, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said.
Iolanda Jaquemet, its spokeswoman, said: “Any military operation by a state on the territory of another without the consent of the other amounts to an international armed conflict. So according to available information, the US attack on Syrian military infrastructure, the situation amounts to an international armed conflict.”
ICRC officials were raising the attack with US authorities as part of ongoing confidential dialogue with parties to the conflict, she added.
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UN security council to discuss the airstrikes
The UN security council will meet at 4.30pm UK time to discuss US strikes in Syria, according to Reuters.
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Rebel Free Syrian Army welcomes airstrikes but fear retaliation – reports
The Free Syrian Army has released a statement welcoming the US airstrikes in Syria but have warned the US “responsibility is still big and does not end with this operation”, Reuters reports.
The rebel group said it was afraid of acts of revenge against civilians by Assad and his allies and said military operations targeting airbases and banned weapons should continue.
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There has been more support for Trump’s airstrikes in Syria, this time from Canada and Jordan.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement: “Canada fully supports the United States’ limited and focused action to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to launch chemical weapons attacks against innocent civilians, including many children.
“President Assad’s use of chemical weapons and the crimes the Syrian regime has committed against its own people cannot be ignored.”
The Jordanian state news agency, Petra, reported that the Jordanian administration said the US missile strike was “necessary and appropriate”.
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The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, has backed the US airstrikes in Syria in a piece for the Guardian.
It starts:
I am in no doubt that what will end the war in Syria is what ultimately ends every conflict: words and diplomacy, not weapons. But when diplomacy fails and civilians suffer, as they have been doing for many years in Syria, and when they are the victim of weapons that have been outlawed by the international community for their horrific and indiscriminate consequences, then we cannot shy away from proportionate military intervention.
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Here’s a round up of global reaction to the US airstrikes in Syria: