US hits Syrian airbase killing 15, Russia fumes

Syria termed the missile barrage American aggression and held consultations with Russia and Iran

IANS  |  Damascus 

This frame grab from video provided by the Syrian official TV, a Syrian government channel that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows the burned and damaged hangar warplanes which attacked by U.S. Tomahawk missiles, at the Shayrat Syrian
This frame grab from video provided by the Syrian official TV, a Syrian government channel that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows the burned and damaged hangar warplanes which attacked by U.S. Tomahawk missiles, at the Shayrat Syrian

The US fired 59 Tomahawk missiles on a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack which killed civilians, drawing angry responses from and its key ally

The US action on Thursday night killed six and nine civilians besides causing huge damage at the Shairat military base in Homs province in central Syria, news reports said.

termed the missile barrage an "American aggression" and held consultations with and

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were an "aggression against a sovereign state" and violated "norms". The Kremlin warned it would hamper Washington's ties with

Within hours, suspended a deal with the US to prevent mid-air collisions over

"The Russian side suspends the memorandum on preventing incidents and ensuring flights safety during operations in signed with the US," the said.

Moscow also urged the to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the Syrian situation.

This was the first direct military action President Donald Trump has unleashed against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since he took power in January and represents a dramatic escalation in the US military campaign in the volatile region.

Speaking to the media at Florida, the President said Damascus had "ignored the urging of the UN Security Council".

Washington has blamed the Syrian military for the toxic attack of Tuesday in which over 70 persons died in Khan Shaykun town of n Idlib province. Damascus called the allegation a "lie".

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said the army struck an arms depot of the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the target contained chemical materials that terrorists had brought from Iraq.

The Syrian airbase hit by the US missiles was used in the war against the Islamic State and played a key role in liberating the ancient city of Palmyra from the jehadist group.

The Russian Defence Ministry said only 23 of the 59 cruise missiles fired from US warships hit the target.

The US said it notified both and Turkey before the missile strike.

"US military planners took precautions to minimise risk to Russian or Syrian personnel located at the airfield," a US statement said, hinting a Russian military presence at the Shairat base.

said it expected the to condemn the US strikes, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Victor Ozerov, the chairman of Russian Federation Council's Committee on Defence and Security, said on Friday that the US strike in was "an act of aggression" against a UN member.

He said it would "undermine the efforts in the fight against terrorism" in and that cooperation between the US and may be "shut down".

In the US, Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said there were "no current plans for additional strikes".

US hits Syrian airbase killing 15, Russia fumes

Syria termed the missile barrage American aggression and held consultations with Russia and Iran

Syria termed the missile barrage American aggression and held consultations with Russia and Iran

The US fired 59 Tomahawk missiles on a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack which killed civilians, drawing angry responses from and its key ally

The US action on Thursday night killed six and nine civilians besides causing huge damage at the Shairat military base in Homs province in central Syria, news reports said.

termed the missile barrage an "American aggression" and held consultations with and

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were an "aggression against a sovereign state" and violated "norms". The Kremlin warned it would hamper Washington's ties with

Within hours, suspended a deal with the US to prevent mid-air collisions over

"The Russian side suspends the memorandum on preventing incidents and ensuring flights safety during operations in signed with the US," the said.

Moscow also urged the to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the Syrian situation.

This was the first direct military action President Donald Trump has unleashed against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since he took power in January and represents a dramatic escalation in the US military campaign in the volatile region.

Speaking to the media at Florida, the President said Damascus had "ignored the urging of the UN Security Council".

Washington has blamed the Syrian military for the toxic attack of Tuesday in which over 70 persons died in Khan Shaykun town of n Idlib province. Damascus called the allegation a "lie".

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said the army struck an arms depot of the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the target contained chemical materials that terrorists had brought from Iraq.

The Syrian airbase hit by the US missiles was used in the war against the Islamic State and played a key role in liberating the ancient city of Palmyra from the jehadist group.

The Russian Defence Ministry said only 23 of the 59 cruise missiles fired from US warships hit the target.

The US said it notified both and Turkey before the missile strike.

"US military planners took precautions to minimise risk to Russian or Syrian personnel located at the airfield," a US statement said, hinting a Russian military presence at the Shairat base.

said it expected the to condemn the US strikes, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Victor Ozerov, the chairman of Russian Federation Council's Committee on Defence and Security, said on Friday that the US strike in was "an act of aggression" against a UN member.

He said it would "undermine the efforts in the fight against terrorism" in and that cooperation between the US and may be "shut down".

In the US, Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said there were "no current plans for additional strikes".

image
Business Standard
177 22