The US, UK and France have bombed multiple government targets in Syria in an early morning operation targeting alleged chemical weapons sites.
The strikes are in response to a suspected chemical attack on the Syrian town of Douma last week.
“A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now underway,” President Trump said in an address to the nation.
Explosions were reported near the Syrian capital Damascus.
Officials at a Pentagon briefing listed three targets that had been struck:
A scientific research facility in Damascus, allegedly connected to the production chemical and biological weapons
A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs
A chemical weapons equipment storage and an important command post, also near Homs
Syrian state television said government forces had shot down more than a dozen missiles.
US Secretary of Defence James Mattis told reporters there were no reports of losses in the operation.
“Right now, this is a one-time shot, and I believe it has sent a very strong message,” he said, saying the first wave of strikes was over.
President Trump had earlier said: “We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents.”
