This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/apr/07/us-syria-response-donald-trump-assad-pentagon-live

The article has changed 37 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Donald Trump launches US missile strike against Syria after chemical attack – live Donald Trump launches US missile strike against Syria after chemical attack – live
(35 minutes later)
7.29am BST
07:29
Shaun Walker
The Kremlin has made its first comment, with Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov making an angry statement. Peskov said Putin sees the strikes on Syria as “aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law, and under a false pretext”.
Peskov claimed Syria has no chemical weapons, and that the destruction of them has been monitored by international observers. He said Trump’s move would have consequences for the relationship between the two countries.
“With this step Washington has struck a significant blow to Russian-American relations, which were already in a sorry state,” said Peskov.
No word yet on any concrete response, though.
7.25am BST
07:25
Catch up with our coverage of the US strikes against Syria here:
US strikes Syrian airfield in first direct military action against Assad
A dinner of steak and carrots, then Trump’s cruise missiles struck Syria
Moustafa Bayoumi: Trump’s senseless Syria strikes accomplish nothing
Tomahawk missile: weapon of deadly precision comes back to fore in Syria
7.13am BST
07:13
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
The US has launched a missile strike against Syria, targeting al-Shayrat airbase close to Homs, from where it said this week’s sarin nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhun was launched.
The Pentagon said 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from warships USS Ross and Porter in the eastern Mediterranean in the early hours of Friday morning, Syria time.
Unconfirmed reports from Homs province said the airbase was destroyed, and some personnel killed. Some reports said senior officers had evacuated the base before the airstrikes happened.
Donald Trump said the strike was a direct response to the chemical weapons attack that killed more than 70 people:
Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched.
It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.
There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the chemical weapons convention, and ignored the urging of the UN security council.
Years of previous attempts at changing Assad’s behaviour have all failed and failed very dramatically.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said the strike did not indicate a shift in US policy towards Syria, despite its significant shift from the previous stance taken by the Trump administration.
There was an angry response in Russia, where the Kremlin warned that the strikes would cause “significant damage to US-Russia ties”.
Tillerson said Russia bore responsibility for its handling of the 2013 deal that was supposed to remove Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile:
They would act as the guarantor that these weapons would no longer be present in Syria. Clearly Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on that commitment from 2013.
Either Russia has been complicit or Russia has been simply incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement.
Tillerson said there had been “no discussions” with Moscow before or since the strike.
But the Pentagon confirmed that Russia – a key Assad ally – had been informed in advance of the strike through military channels:
Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike using the established deconfliction line.
The Pentagon also said it believes the strike has “severely damaged or destroyed Syrian aircraft and support infrastructure”.
Support for the US action came from the UK, Australia, Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, while Iran condemned the strikes.
Read our latest news story here:
Updated
at 7.14am BST
7.12am BST
07:12
The Turkish deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmuş, has backed the US strikes.
Speaking on Turkish Fox TV, Kurtulmuş said he hoped the operation would contribute to achieving peace in Syria, and said the international community needed to maintain pressure on Assad.
7.00am BST
07:00
Kremlin response: 'significant damage to US-Russia ties'
In its first public response to the airstrikes, the Kremlin has issued a strong statement condemning the US move as “aggression against a sovereign nation”.
Moscow said the strikes had been carried out on an “invented pretext” and claimed the Syrian army did not have chemical weapons.
The strikes, it said, would do “significant damage to US-Russia ties” and created a “serious obstacle” to creating an international coalition to defeat Isis.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said, views the strikes as an attempt to deflect world attention from civilian deaths in Iraq – where at least 150 people died in a series of coalition airstrikes in Mosul last month.
6.52am BST6.52am BST
06:5206:52
Iran has condemned the US missile strike on Syria, Associated Press reports:Iran has condemned the US missile strike on Syria, Associated Press reports:
Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the “unilateral action is dangerous, destructive and violates the principles of international law”, in a report carried Friday by the semi-official ISNA news agency.Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the “unilateral action is dangerous, destructive and violates the principles of international law”, in a report carried Friday by the semi-official ISNA news agency.
Iran is one of the biggest supporters of Assad and its hardline paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is deeply involved in the war.Iran is one of the biggest supporters of Assad and its hardline paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is deeply involved in the war.
Ghasemi described Iran as “the biggest victim of chemical weapons in recent history”, referencing Iraqi use of the weapons during its 1980s war. He said Iran condemned the missile launch “regardless of the perpetrators and the victims” of Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack in Syria.Ghasemi described Iran as “the biggest victim of chemical weapons in recent history”, referencing Iraqi use of the weapons during its 1980s war. He said Iran condemned the missile launch “regardless of the perpetrators and the victims” of Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack in Syria.
He also warned it would “strengthen terrorists” and further add to “the complexity of the situation in Syria and the region”.He also warned it would “strengthen terrorists” and further add to “the complexity of the situation in Syria and the region”.
6.37am BST6.37am BST
06:3706:37
In addition, Shaun Walker reports, there’s a big round of diplomacy ahead in Russia next week: US secretary of state Rex Tillerson is due in Moscow on Wednesday and is expected to meet with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and president Vladimir Putin.In addition, Shaun Walker reports, there’s a big round of diplomacy ahead in Russia next week: US secretary of state Rex Tillerson is due in Moscow on Wednesday and is expected to meet with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and president Vladimir Putin.
Boris Johnson is in Moscow on Monday and will meet Lavrov.Boris Johnson is in Moscow on Monday and will meet Lavrov.
6.31am BST6.31am BST
06:3106:31
Shaun WalkerShaun Walker
The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent reports:The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent reports:
The Russian foreign ministry has said it will make a statement soon on the US action. There has been a lot of negative comment so far, comparing Trump’s move to previous US incursions in the Middle East, but little concrete information about the potential consequences, as people wait for a signal from the Kremlin on how Russia is going to play this.The Russian foreign ministry has said it will make a statement soon on the US action. There has been a lot of negative comment so far, comparing Trump’s move to previous US incursions in the Middle East, but little concrete information about the potential consequences, as people wait for a signal from the Kremlin on how Russia is going to play this.
The Pentagon has said there were “multiple conversations” with Russia before the strike, and that “extraordinary precautions” were taken not to target Russians at the base, but we are also yet to hear anything from either the Kremlin or military HQ on how these discussions looked from Moscow.The Pentagon has said there were “multiple conversations” with Russia before the strike, and that “extraordinary precautions” were taken not to target Russians at the base, but we are also yet to hear anything from either the Kremlin or military HQ on how these discussions looked from Moscow.
A report on the state news said the US had launched the attack after “baseless” claims that Assad had used chemical weapons. Senator Viktor Ozerov said Trump was “following in the footsteps of Bush Jr who looked for chemical weapons in Iraq, and we all know how that worked out”.A report on the state news said the US had launched the attack after “baseless” claims that Assad had used chemical weapons. Senator Viktor Ozerov said Trump was “following in the footsteps of Bush Jr who looked for chemical weapons in Iraq, and we all know how that worked out”.
Alexei Pushkov, a Russian senator and former top foreign policy official, wrote on Twitter shortly before the US missiles were launched:Alexei Pushkov, a Russian senator and former top foreign policy official, wrote on Twitter shortly before the US missiles were launched:
In the 21st century, every US president has had a war in the Middle East, if not two. If Trump goes into Syria, he’ll sit alongside Bush and Obama.In the 21st century, every US president has had a war in the Middle East, if not two. If Trump goes into Syria, he’ll sit alongside Bush and Obama.
Vladimir Safronkov, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, said:Vladimir Safronkov, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, said:
The authors of these plans should stop and think what military operations in Iraq, Libya, and other countries led to. All the consequences will be on the conscience of those who came up with these plans.The authors of these plans should stop and think what military operations in Iraq, Libya, and other countries led to. All the consequences will be on the conscience of those who came up with these plans.
6.23am BST6.23am BST
06:2306:23
UK: strike was 'appropriate response'UK: strike was 'appropriate response'
Britain, too, has issued a show of support for the US action against Syria.Britain, too, has issued a show of support for the US action against Syria.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said:A Downing Street spokeswoman said:
The UK government fully supports the US action, which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks.The UK government fully supports the US action, which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks.
6.19am BST6.19am BST
06:1906:19
Australia 'strongly supports' US strikeAustralia 'strongly supports' US strike
Gareth HutchensGareth Hutchens
Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he “strongly supports” the US military strike on Syria’s al-Shayrat airfield, calling it a calibrated, proportionate and targeted response to the Syrian regime’s “shocking war crime”.Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he “strongly supports” the US military strike on Syria’s al-Shayrat airfield, calling it a calibrated, proportionate and targeted response to the Syrian regime’s “shocking war crime”.
He said Australia was in close discussions with its allies about the next steps, but said the airstrike had sent an important signal that the world would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons.He said Australia was in close discussions with its allies about the next steps, but said the airstrike had sent an important signal that the world would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons.
In a specially-convened press conference in Sydney on Friday, Turnbull said:In a specially-convened press conference in Sydney on Friday, Turnbull said:
It sends a strong message to the Assad regime.It sends a strong message to the Assad regime.
The retribution has been proportionate and it has been swift. We support the United States in that swift action.The retribution has been proportionate and it has been swift. We support the United States in that swift action.
Turnbull said it was important to note that the international community was not at war with the Assad regime, and the US had made it clear it was not seeking to overthrow Bashar al-Assad.Turnbull said it was important to note that the international community was not at war with the Assad regime, and the US had made it clear it was not seeking to overthrow Bashar al-Assad.
However, he said events of this week raised “very real questions” over whether Assad could remain as leader of Syria:However, he said events of this week raised “very real questions” over whether Assad could remain as leader of Syria:
This chemical attack was a horrific crime, shocking, even in the context of that brutal war.This chemical attack was a horrific crime, shocking, even in the context of that brutal war.
Turnbull said the US had not asked for more military support, but he left open the possibility of providing it in the future:Turnbull said the US had not asked for more military support, but he left open the possibility of providing it in the future:
There is no question that this shocking conflict in Syria is crying out itself for a resolution and we certainly will continue to work with our allies and our partners to see a resolution to this shocking war.There is no question that this shocking conflict in Syria is crying out itself for a resolution and we certainly will continue to work with our allies and our partners to see a resolution to this shocking war.
6.13am BST6.13am BST
06:1306:13
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organisation that monitors the war, says al-Shayrat airbase has been almost completely destroyed.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organisation that monitors the war, says al-Shayrat airbase has been almost completely destroyed.
There are reports that some troops have been killed, but this is as yet unconfirmed.There are reports that some troops have been killed, but this is as yet unconfirmed.
6.08am BST6.08am BST
06:0806:08
Elle HuntElle Hunt
A mainstay of US warfare for more than 20 years, the Tomahawk cruise missile had been considered the most likely weapon for any strike by the Trump administration against the Syrian military. And so it proved.A mainstay of US warfare for more than 20 years, the Tomahawk cruise missile had been considered the most likely weapon for any strike by the Trump administration against the Syrian military. And so it proved.
The US launched its surprise attack on an inland airbase near Homs early on Thursday morning, with 59 of the missiles deployed from two naval destroyers. USS Ross and USS Porter were in the eastern Mediterranean sea off Syria’s western coast.The US launched its surprise attack on an inland airbase near Homs early on Thursday morning, with 59 of the missiles deployed from two naval destroyers. USS Ross and USS Porter were in the eastern Mediterranean sea off Syria’s western coast.
More than 6.25m long (20ft) and weighing 1,590kg (3,500lb), the Tomahawk land-attack missile is billed by the US navy as “an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile” able to be launched from either ships or submarines.More than 6.25m long (20ft) and weighing 1,590kg (3,500lb), the Tomahawk land-attack missile is billed by the US navy as “an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile” able to be launched from either ships or submarines.
They commonly carry warheads of up to 454kg (1,000lb), and are designed to fly at low altitudes towards even heavily defended land targets with extreme accuracy.They commonly carry warheads of up to 454kg (1,000lb), and are designed to fly at low altitudes towards even heavily defended land targets with extreme accuracy.
Their chief advantage in warfare is that they are unmanned, guided by GPS to targets more than 1,600km (1,000 miles) away at high subsonic speeds of 885km/h (550mph).Their chief advantage in warfare is that they are unmanned, guided by GPS to targets more than 1,600km (1,000 miles) away at high subsonic speeds of 885km/h (550mph).
5.56am BST5.56am BST
05:5605:56
Russia is waking up to news of the strike – though we know military channels were used to alert Moscow before the missiles were launched – and reaction so far has been hostile.Russia is waking up to news of the strike – though we know military channels were used to alert Moscow before the missiles were launched – and reaction so far has been hostile.
State news agency RIA quoted Viktor Ozerov, head of the defence and security committee at the Russian upper house of parliament, saying the US strikes could undermine the fight against terrorism.State news agency RIA quoted Viktor Ozerov, head of the defence and security committee at the Russian upper house of parliament, saying the US strikes could undermine the fight against terrorism.
Ozerov said Russia would call for an urgent meeting of the UN security council:Ozerov said Russia would call for an urgent meeting of the UN security council:
This [the attack] could be viewed as an act of aggression of the US against a UN nation.This [the attack] could be viewed as an act of aggression of the US against a UN nation.
5.46am BST
05:46
Martin Chulov
The Guardian’s Middle East correspondent reports from Beirut:
The al-Shayrat air base has been central to the Syrian war and to persistent claims of chemical weapons use. It is one of Bashar al-Assad’s main military institutions and has housed allies including Russian troops, Hezbollah and Iraqi militias throughout the war.
Sources in Lebanon who are allied to the regime said senior officers evacuated the base before the airstrikes happened and some commanders were attempting to move their families to the Lebanese capital.
The US strike had been increasingly anticipated from late on Thursday until early Friday morning, when 59 precision guided missiles were launched from two US destroyers in the Mediterranean.
Russia has retained a presence at al-Shayrat, although its most significant force is located at a purpose-built base close to Latakia.
There was no immediate response from Hezbollah, whose forces have been central to turning the tide of the war in Assad’s favour over the past two years, most recently in Hama, where they have helped rebuff an assault near Syria’s fourth city led by jihadists and opposition groups.
Russia has established a comprehensive ground-radar bubble over much of northern Syria, which would have been capable of detecting incoming threats, such as the pre-dawn barrage of missiles.
Before the war, al-Shayrat was one of Assad’s strategic bases. Located near where large stores of sarin were kept in bunkers, it has maintained that role even as most of the stockpiles were surrendered in late 2013. Since then, there have been several claims of sarin use and extensive claims that chlorine has been strapped to war planes and helicopters and dropped on opposition fighters and communities.
Updated
at 5.46am BST
5.35am BST
05:35
Homs governor: deaths reported at airbase
Associated Press cites Talal Barazi, governor of Homs province, where al-Shayrat airbase is located, saying there have been deaths as a result of the strikes.
At the moment, there are no further details.
5.29am BST
05:29
Julian Borger
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the Russians were informed in “multiple conversations” on Thursday, through the “deconfliction channel” – a communications channel to the Russian base at Latakia used to avoid collisions or exchanges of fire between US and allied planes and Russian planes.
“There are Russians at the base and we took extraordinary precautions to not target the area where the Russians are,” he said.
5.20am BST
05:20
The US defense department has released images of its two guided-missile destroyers, USS Porter and USS Ross, stationed in the Mediterranean, unleashing the missile strike on Syria.
Updated
at 5.27am BST
5.02am BST
05:02
AP reports that the Syrian Coalition, an opposition group, has welcomed the US attack, saying it puts an end to an age of “impunity” and should be just the beginning.
Major Jamil al-Saleh, a US-backed rebel commander whose Hama district was struck by a suspected chemical weapons attack, said he hoped the US attack on a government air base would be a “turning point” in the six-year war.
4.53am BST
04:53
Talal Barazi, governor of Syria’s Homs province, where al-Shayrat airbase is located, has told state TV that such strikes serve the purpose of terrorists, Reuters reports:
Syrian leadership and Syrian policy will not change. This targeting was not the first and I don’t believe it will be the last …
The armed terrorist groups and Daesh [Isis] failed to target the Syrian Arab Army and Russian military positions.
The US strikes “targeted military positions in Syria and in Homs specifically” in order to “serve the goals of terrorism in Syria and the goals of Israel in the long run”, Barazi said. (The Syrian government describes all armed groups opposed to it as terrorists.)
Barazi said there are not thought to be “big human casualties” at the airbase, though there is material damage as a result of the strikes. He said firefighting and rescue operations had been continuing for more than two hours.
And he insisted that the airbase – which the US said was the site from which the sarin nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhun was launched – was used to support Syrian regime operations against Isis.
4.43am BST
04:43
Tillerson: 'no change' in US policy on Syria
Secretary of state Rex Tillerson has insisted that the missile strikes – despite the sharp shift they represent from the previous stance taken by the Trump administration – are not in fact a change in US policy towards Syria:
This clearly indicates the president is willing to take decisive action when called for.
I would not in any way attempt to extrapolate that to a change in our policy or posture relative to our military activities in Syria today. There has been no change in that status.
I think it does demonstrate that President Trump is willing to act when governments and actors cross the line and cross the line on violating commitments they’ve made and cross the line in the most heinous of ways.
4.29am BST
04:29
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
The US has launched a missile strike against Syria, targeting al-Shayrat airbase close to Homs, from where it said this week’s sarin nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhun was launched.
The Pentagon said 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from warships USS Ross and Porter in the eastern Mediterranean on Thursday at 8.45ET (Friday 3.45am Syria).
Donald Trump said the strike was a direct response to the chemical weapons attack that killed more than 70 people:
Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched.
It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.
There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the chemical weapons convention, and ignored the urging of the UN security council.
Years of previous attempts at changing Assad’s behaviour have all failed and failed very dramatically.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said Russia bore responsibility for its handling of the 2013 deal that was supposed to remove Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile:
They would act as the guarantor that these weapons would no longer be present in Syria. Clearly Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on that commitment from 2013.
Either Russia has been complicit or Russia has been simply incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement.
Tillerson said there had been “no discussions” with Moscow before or since the strike.
But the Pentagon confirmed that Russia – a key Assad ally – had been informed in advance of the strike through military channels:
Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike using the established deconfliction line.
The Pentagon also said it believes the strike has “severely damaged or destroyed Syrian aircraft and support infrastructure”.
Read our latest news story here:
Updated
at 4.31am BST
4.21am BST
04:21
Tillerson contradicts Pentagon over Russia contact
Contradicting information from the Pentagon – which said “Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike using the established deconfliction line” – secretary of state Rex Tillerson told reporters that Russia had not been alerted:
There were no discussions or prior contacts, nor had there been any since the attack with Moscow.
The contradiction could be explained if Tillerson is referring to political channels, and the Pentagon military ones.
Updated
at 4.23am BST
4.16am BST
04:16
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also lent his backing to the strike:
Very rare 6am (Jerusalem time) statement from Netanyahu just now: "Israel fully supports President Trump's decision"