U.S. says air strikes cripple Syria chemical weapons program

[rooster59]

U.S. says air strikes cripple Syria chemical weapons program

By Phil Stewart and Tom Perry

 

Syria air defences strike back after air strikes by U.S., British and French forces in Damascus, Syria in this still image obtained from video dated early April 14, 2018. SYRIA TV via Reuters TV

 

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Western powers said on Saturday their missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons program, but the restrained assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's progress in the 7-year-old civil war.

 

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles overnight in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Syria a week ago, targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities, including a research and development centre in Damascus' Barzeh district and two installations near Homs.

 

The bombing was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his superpower ally Russia, but the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.

 

The air attack, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was unlikely to alter the course of a multisided war that has killed at least half a million people.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump called the operation a success.

 

He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush, whose use of the same phrase in 2003 to describe the U.S. invasion of Iraq was widely ridiculed as violence there dragged on for years.

 

"We believe that by hitting Barzeh in particular we've attacked the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon program," U.S. Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said at the Pentagon.

 

However, McKenzie acknowledged elements of the program remain and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future.

 

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that Trump told her that if Syria uses poisonous gas again, "The United States is locked and loaded."

 

The Western countries said the strikes were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapons attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7 killed up to 75 people. They blame Assad's government for the attack.

 

In Washington, a senior administration official said on Saturday that "while the available information is much greater on the chlorine use, we do have significant information that also points to sarin use" in the attack.

 

Speaking at a summit in Peru, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence seemed less sure of the use of sarin, saying that Washington may well determine that it was used along with chlorine.

 

ASSAD 'RESILIENCE'

 

Ten hours after the missiles hit, smoke was still rising from the remains of five destroyed buildings of the Syrian Scientific Research Center in Barzeh, where a Syrian employee said medical components were developed.

 

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

 

Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption "Morning of resilience".

 

Late on Saturday Syria time, a large explosion was heard in a Syrian government-controlled area in a rural region south of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the cause of the explosion was unknown, as well as its target.

 

Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him.

 

The United States, Britain and France have all participated in the Syrian conflict for years, arming rebels, bombing Islamic State fighters and deploying troops on the ground to fight that group. But they have refrained from targeting Assad's government, apart from a volley of U.S. missiles last year.

 

Although the Western countries have all said for seven years that Assad must leave power, they held back in the past from striking his government, lacking a wider strategy to defeat him.

 

Syria and its allies also made clear that they considered the attack a one-off, unlikely to do meaningful harm to Assad.

 

A senior official in a regional alliance that backs Damascus told Reuters the sites that were targeted had been evacuated days ago thanks to a warning from Russia.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the strikes were "unacceptable and lawless."

 

Syrian state media called them a "flagrant violation of international law," while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a crime and the Western leaders criminals.

 

Russia had promised to respond to any attack on its ally, but the Pentagon said no Russian air defence systems were used. Syria fired 40 unguided surface-to-air missiles - but only after the Western strikes had ended, the Pentagon said.

 

"We are confident that all of our missiles reached their targets," McKenzie said.

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May described the strike as "limited and targeted," with no intention of toppling Assad or intervening more widely in the war.

 

Washington described the strike targets as a centre near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons; a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs; and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post.

 

The Pentagon said there had been chemical weapons agents at one of the targets, and that the strikes had significantly crippled Syria's ability to produce such weapons.

 

Trump spoke to May and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss results of the strikes, the leaders' offices said.

 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Security Council members to exercise restraint and avoid escalation in Syria, but said allegations of chemical weapons use demand an investigation.

 

WEAPONS INSPECTIONS

 

Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were due to try to visit Douma on Saturday to inspect the site of the suspected gas attack. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for their findings.

 

Russia, whose relations with the West have deteriorated to levels of Cold War-era hostility, has denied any gas attack took place in Douma and even accused Britain of staging it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria.

 

The Western countries took precautions to avoid unexpected conflict with Russia. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said Russians was warned beforehand to avert conflict.

 

Dmitry Belik, a Russian member of parliament who was in Damascus and witnessed the strikes, told Reuters: "The attack was more of a psychological nature rather than practical. Luckily there are no substantial losses or damages."

 

In Douma, site of the suspected gas attack, the last buses were due on Saturday to transport out rebels and their families who agreed to surrender the town, state TV reported. That effectively ends all resistance in the suburbs of Damascus known as eastern Ghouta, marking one of the biggest victories for Assad's government of the war.

 

The Western assault involved more missiles than a U.S. attack last year but struck targets limited to Syria's chemical weapons facilities. The U.S. intervention last year had effectively no impact on the war.

 

Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad's chlorine use have been frequent during the war although, unlike nerve agents, chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-15

[FritsSikkink]

What program?

[Samui Bodoh]

20 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush

Hmm...

 

Did no one note the problems associated with the phrase "mission accomplished"?

 

Bush-league political operations.

 

(pun intended)

[ezzra]

Here's a simple prediction, there will be more attacks by, Assad army on just about everybody, more chemical attacks, shelling, bombing, killing, maiming, death and destructions all around and all that with the approval of Iran, Russia and other Arab countries who do nothing to stop this,

There will be more tough talks from Trump, threats of actions and retaliations etc, etc, with each side balming the others of faking everything, nothing happend they will say, it's all fake,   in concussion, nothing will change and people will continue to be gassed and die horribly while the world watches on....

Edited April 15, 2018 by ezzra

[lovelomsak]

41 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Here's a simple prediction, there will be more attacks by, Assad army on just about everybody, more chemical attacks, shelling, bombing, killing, maiming, death and destructions all around and all that with the approval of Iran, Russia and other Arab countries who do nothing to stop this,

There will be more tough talks from Trump, threats of actions and retaliations etc, etc, with each side balming the others of faking everything, nothing happend they will say, it's all fake,   in concussion, nothing will change and people will continue to be gassed and die horribly while the world watches on....

I think you have it right.

 The world is all fake now. We just sit back and watch the civilized world die away.

[Topdoc]

Any chance of the US policing Israel's covert chemicals weapons program which includes white phosphorus?

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Here's a simple prediction, there will be more attacks by, Assad army on just about everybody, more chemical attacks, shelling, bombing, killing, maiming, death and destructions all around and all that with the approval of Iran, Russia and other Arab countries who do nothing to stop this,

There will be more tough talks from Trump, threats of actions and retaliations etc, etc, with each side balming the others of faking everything, nothing happend they will say, it's all fake,   in concussion, nothing will change and people will continue to be gassed and die horribly while the world watches on....

You should write fairy tails, you are quite good at it. Maybe even get a job as US or UK press officer.

[siam2007]

1 hour ago, lovelomsak said:

I think you have it right.

 The world is all fake now. We just sit back and watch the civilized world die away.

 

Oh-so-true

 

On the positive side, we can watch that tragedy happen while sitting on a beach, sipping an inexpensive but AROI bottle of SINGHA, and having an army of beautiful young Thai ladies calling us "sexy man" every other minute.

That's called fatalism, me thinks  -_- 

 

[quandow]

This is EXACTLY the same as the Iraq war stopping all those weapons of mass destruction. Anyone else as weary as I am of all the lies coming from the largest organized terrorist group on earth aka U.S. government?

[quandow]

11 minutes ago, siam2007 said:

 

Oh-so-true

 

On the positive side, we can watch that tragedy happen while sitting on a beach, sipping an inexpensive but AROI bottle of SINGHA, and having an army of beautiful young Thai ladies calling us "sexy man" every other minute.

That's called fatalism, me thinks  -_- 

 

I woke up this morning, wondering sadly what fresh hell the U.S. government was poisoning the planet with, knowing people died yesterday because of the MIC. This shit has GOT to stop!

 

Yin/yang.

Edited April 15, 2018 by quandow
Added perspective.

[Morch]

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What program?

 

Obvious troll is obvious:

 

Syria chemical weapons program

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_chemical_weapons_program

 

Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_Syria's_chemical_weapons

 

 

 

[Morch]

1 hour ago, quandow said:

This is EXACTLY the same as the Iraq war stopping all those weapons of mass destruction. Anyone else as weary as I am of all the lies coming from the largest organized terrorist group on earth aka U.S. government?

 

How is it "exactly the same"? Do you see any indication of an invasion on the horizon? Anything which supports the notion of further US involvement? Was Saddam strongly supported by Russia? Russian troops in country?

Edited April 15, 2018 by Morch

[metisdead]

A post containing a link to a questionable source has been removed. 

[PhonThong]

2 hours ago, Topdoc said:

Any chance of the US policing Israel's covert chemicals weapons program which includes white phosphorus?

Almost all countries use white phosphorus munitions, as there are no treaties that ban its use. 

[rocketman777]

What evidence is there that the Research facility that was bombed was researching chemical weapons ?

 

What evidence is there that the two storage facilities that were bombed were storing chemical weapons?

 

The US and its British , French  vassal governments in their self righteous indignation could not wait for the OPCW to complete its investigation.

 

Surely even the  brain dead leaders of these governments could see that this latest alleged  use of 'chemicals'  was a stage event.

 

Hell they were not even sure what 'Chemicals '  were used if any. 

Could have been common liquid bleach to create the illusion of the use of Chlorine Gas. 

In fact it could  have been anything or nothing at all, who knows without an independent investigation.

But for Trump et al , social media is the only evidence needed for a through investigation.

Where would their ' intelligence ' services be without the aid of Facebook..

 

As to Syria's Chemical weapons program. This was disbanded and all stock piles of  said chemical removed fro Syria for disposal by June 2014 . This was verified by both the OPCW and by the Russian Federation.

 

This attack on Syria was an unnecessary outrage, that has brought the world even closer to the brink of a direct conflict with Russia and all  that would inevitable result from that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Benmart]

6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Hmm...

 

Did no one note the problems associated with the phrase "mission accomplished"?

 

Bush-league political operations.

 

(pun intended)

A tired comparision from a by-gone era. Turn the calendar Sir.

[farcanell]

40 minutes ago, rocketman777 said:

What evidence is there that the Research facility that was bombed was researching chemical weapons ?

 

What evidence is there that the two storage facilities that were bombed were storing chemical weapons?

 

The US and its British , French  vassal governments in their self righteous indignation could not wait for the OPCW to complete its investigation.

 

Surely even the  brain dead leaders of these governments could see that this latest alleged  use of 'chemicals'  was a stage event.

 

Hell they were not even sure what 'Chemicals '  were used if any. 

Could have been common liquid bleach to create the illusion of the use of Chlorine Gas. 

In fact it could  have been anything or nothing at all, who knows without an independent investigation.

But for Trump et al , social media is the only evidence needed for a through investigation.

Where would their ' intelligence ' services be without the aid of Facebook..

 

As to Syria's Chemical weapons program. This was disbanded and all stock piles of  said chemical removed fro Syria for disposal by June 2014 . This was verified by both the OPCW and by the Russian Federation.

 

This attack on Syria was an unnecessary outrage, that has brought the world even closer to the brink of a direct conflict with Russia and all  that would inevitable result from that.

 

???.... so... you don’t believe that Syria has used chemical weapons.... fair enough.... , thus your post condemning action against the rabid mad dog Assad.... fair enough

 

but.... if everyone else, (other than Assad supporters) believes that your wrong, and can prove it, as they claim.... then would  your opinion change, or would you still support Assad?

 

 

as in... here’s definitive proof of Assad using chemical weapons, so bombing the chemical weapons production and storage facilities is a measured and appropriate response ( no reported deaths, was it? .... unlike during the chemical attack)

 

 

[The manic]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Here's a simple prediction, there will be more attacks by, Assad army on just about everybody, more chemical attacks, shelling, bombing, killing, maiming, death and destructions all around and all that with the approval of Iran, Russia and other Arab countries who do nothing to stop this,

There will be more tough talks from Trump, threats of actions and retaliations etc, etc, with each side balming the others of faking everything, nothing happend they will say, it's all fake,   in concussion, nothing will change and people will continue to be gassed and die horribly while the world watches on....

I have lived in the MENA region,on and off for nearly 40 years.I am confident that both the British and USA intelligence agencies and their European counterparts knew just what they were doing and are doing now. To get your most feared enemies to destroy themselves is a brilliant strategy. We might not like the Brits but at one time they controlled 80% of the world. We might not like the Americans but they are the most powerful nation in the world. The destruction of the Middle East and parts of North Africa, MENA region and any Muslim nation is part of a tactical plan to protect our western countries. When I lived in Iran we used to say:"Nuke em till they glow in the dark"..And as for other sandpit states - "Nuke em till their deserts turn to glass car parks. Basically this is what WE are doing with out going nuclear. Good Job. We are fighting an enemy who has been trying to destroy us for over a 1000 years with the tried and trusted divide and rule system which all tribal based cultures fall for. The A###s are killing each other...but we still get the chance to test new military technology and get rid off outdated and surplus stock. Result!

[FritsSikkink]

3 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Obvious troll is obvious:

 

Syria chemical weapons program

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_chemical_weapons_program

 

Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_Syria's_chemical_weapons

 

 

 

Syria's chemical weapons program has ended years ago. Here is how politics works and you are falling for it / defending it. 

Keep your troll insults to yourself.

 

 

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Syria's chemical weapons program has ended years ago. Here is how politics works and you are falling for it / defending it. 

Keep your troll insults to yourself.

 

 

 

May wish to actually bother reading the links provided. Including them parts that do not fit your narrative. As for Craig Murray''s views, or the EvolvePolitics platform, I'd be sure to take note, if I'd had much interest in extreme, fringe left wing views.

[FritsSikkink]

10 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

May wish to actually bother reading the links provided. Including them parts that do not fit your narrative. As for Craig Murray''s views, or the EvolvePolitics platform, I'd be sure to take note, if I'd had much interest in extreme, fringe left wing views.

That is part of the problem, you only see views as left or right and don't value them on what they are worth. Get a bit more helicopter view, it helps.

[Morch]

7 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

That is part of the problem, you only see views as left or right and don't value them on what they are worth. Get a bit more helicopter view, it helps.

 

No, that's what you assume I see. You considering partisan, agenda-driven sources to be objective is laughable.

[GreasyFingers]

1 hour ago, The manic said:

..but we still get the chance to test new military technology and get rid off outdated and surplus stock. Result!

This is my reading of the situation from what the press provide. Warn Russia of what is going to happen, fire off outdated missiles so the Russians can test their outdated anti-missile technology. Rinse and repeat.

[sirineou]

5 hours ago, siam2007 said:

 

Oh-so-true

 

On the positive side, we can watch that tragedy happen while sitting on a beach, sipping an inexpensive but AROI bottle of SINGHA, and having an army of beautiful young Thai ladies calling us "sexy man" every other minute.

That's called fatalism, me thinks  -_- 

 

or we can go to war , destroy a country, destabilise a region, kill thousands, displaced millions, all to find weapons of mass destruction.

Have we learned nothing from Iraq? 

 

[GreasyFingers]

40 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Have we learned nothing from Iraq

Many have but not the rulers of USA.

[Morch]

46 minutes ago, sirineou said:

or we can go to war , destroy a country, destabilise a region, kill thousands, displaced millions, all to find weapons of mass destruction.

Have we learned nothing from Iraq? 

 

 

How do current events resemble Iraq?

[sirineou]

Just now, Morch said:

 

How do current events resemble Iraq?

Destroy a country, destabilise a region, remove a threat to Israel.

How much do Tomahawk missiles cost?

 

 

[Morch]

4 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Destroy a country, destabilise a region, remove a threat to Israel.

How much do Tomahawk missiles cost?

 

 

 

Ah, one of those. So it's all the US's fault then. Nothing to do with Assad, nothing to do with Russia. Got to love them easy explanations. Now, is there anything going on indicating an invasion? Massive boots on the ground thing? Assad being deposed? Disposed? Yeah, thought so. Don't let facts confuse you.

Edited April 15, 2018 by Morch

[GreasyFingers]

25 minutes ago, Morch said:

Ah, one of those. So it's all the US's fault then. Nothing to do with Assad, nothing to do with Russia.

Yes, USA are not the rulers of the world, even though they think they are.

[sirineou]

32 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Ah, one of those. So it's all the US's fault then. Nothing to do with Assad, nothing to do with Russia. Got to love them easy explanations. Now, is there anything going on indicating an invasion? Massive boots on the ground thing? Assad being deposed? Disposed? Yeah, thought so. Don't let facts confuse you.

I guess we did learn one thing from Iraq. Don't get your hands  dirty, use proxies.

I am not the only one confused by facts. 

I guess Russia's support of  Assad is different from US support of Sisi and before that Mubarak. Since you are so keen on facts can you discern the difference between Mubarak/Asis and Assad/ Saddam ?

Could it have anything to do with their relationship to Israel or was it because they treated their people differently? Was Saddam better to his people when he was our ally and used chemical weapons on his people that we gave him, while we provided cover for him?  and later on got so bad we had to go in and :liberate them?

I guess there will be dancing in the streets when we do to Syria what we did to Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Lebanon  . 

Edited April 15, 2018 by sirineou