Blasts were reported in Damascus, Syria, just minutes after President Trump announced that he would be launching an attack in retaliation for last week’s chemical attack by Bashar al-Assad on his own citizens.
Unverified videos appear to show the attack as it happened, with Tomahawk missiles lighting up the sky over the Syrian capital.
BREAKING FOOTAGE: SYRIAN AIR-DEFENSES ARE DEFENDING THE SKY OF DAMASCUS pic.twitter.com/1O1F8LQPz7
— Majd Fahd 🇸🇾 (@Syria_Protector) April 14, 2018
Another footage of Syrian air-defense missile fired towards tomahawk rockets in the sky of Damascus. pic.twitter.com/7FVcXN5i2F
— Majd Fahd 🇸🇾 (@Syria_Protector) April 14, 2018
President Trump said in a speech from the White House Friday night that he “ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.” Trump said that the attack is a “combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom.”
Trump called last weeks chemical attack “evil and the despicable” and added, “These are not the actions of a man; they are crimes of a monster instead.”
The U.S. is conducting precision air strikes with B-1 bombers, and at least three structures have been hit, according to reports, including a scientific research facility in Damascus that may have been a chemical weapons site, and two buildings in Homs that are reportedly used for chemical weapons storage.
The AP reported: “Syria’s capital has been rocked by loud explosions that lit up the sky with heavy smoke as U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country’s alleged use of chemical weapons.”
AP reporters in Damascus saw smoke rising from the east side of Damascus. “Syrian state TV says the attack has begun on the capital, though it wasn’t immediately clear what was targeted,” the AP wrote.
Reuters is reporting that, according to a witness, several explosions have been heard in Damascus, with smoke rising on the east side of the city.
Syrian state TV claims that Syrian forces launched a counterattack and that 13 Tomahawk missiles were shot down by Syrian forces, although that information has not been verified.
Cruise missiles being shot down over #Damascus @21WIRE pic.twitter.com/WIvbNETvun
— vanessa beeley (@VanessaBeeley) April 14, 2018
China’s Xinhua News posted an unverified video of the counterattack:
Syria's air defense systems activated shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes. Syria's State TV: The Syrian military confronts air strikes with anti-aircraft weapons pic.twitter.com/GUf0merJy2
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) April 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/mgaudy1980/status/984979403082956800
BREAKING: Loud explosions light up skies over Syrian capital, heavy smoke as President Trump announces airstrikes.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2018
Holy shit the war has just been started here, Syrian air-defenses are now defending the sky. Video soon
— Majd Fahd 🇸🇾 (@Syria_Protector) April 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/984961585318940672https://twitter.com/AFP/status/984961337766961153
BREAKING: Civilian casualties are being reported in Damascus as at least 2 residential areas have been struck by the US-led force's missiles. At least 4 dead in one of the strikes. pic.twitter.com/nCjcMZUrKQ
— H. Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) April 14, 2018
British Prime Minister Theresa May said there was “no practicable alternative to the use of force” to stop the use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad. “This persistent pattern of behaviour must be stopped – not just to protect innocent people in Syria from the horrific deaths and casualties caused by chemical weapons but also because we cannot allow the erosion of the international norm that prevents the use of these weapons,” she said.
The Pentagon will have a briefing at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. PJM’s Bridget Johnson will have a comprehensive report at the conclusion of that briefing.
Watch President Trump’s speech and read the transcript below:
WHITE HOUSE TRANSCRIPT:
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