US threatens further strikes in Syria
US missile strike infuriated Moscow and calls for a push to end the six-year war
UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United States warned Friday it is ready to hit Syria again after a missile strike that infuriated Moscow and fueled calls for a push to end the six-year war.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley delivered the warning at an emergency session of the UN Security Council called after the US strikes, which were launched to punish an alleged chemical weapons attack by Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Assad’s ally Russia, meanwhile, declared President Donald Trump’s first strike against the Damascus regime a violation of international law and an ‘act of aggression.’
“The United States took a very measured step last night. We are prepared to do more, but we hope it will not be necessary,” Haley told the council.
Haley said the strike destroyed an air field from which Washington believes Damascus launched the attack on rebel-held Khan Sheikhun, where 86 people including 27 children died this week.
Rights monitors warned, however, that Syrian jets were already flying sorties from the base again as night fell Friday. The United States fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from warships in the Mediterranean at the Shayrat airfield near Homs in central Syria. Assad’s office called the strike ‘foolish and irresponsible,’ and Moscow announced a series of retaliatory steps including plans to strengthen Syrian air defenses.
“The United States will no longer wait for Assad to use chemical weapons without any consequences,” Haley said. “Those days are over.” The United States did not seek UN Security Council authorisation for the military action that followed days of global outrage at images of dead children from the suspected sarin gas attack.
The United States took a very measured step last night. We are prepared to do more, but we hope it will not be necessary. — Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to UN