{"id":55725,"date":"2018-04-14T01:08:29","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T01:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/14\/retaliatory-strikes-on-syria-underway\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:11:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:11:03","slug":"retaliatory-strikes-on-syria-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/14\/retaliatory-strikes-on-syria-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"US strikes three Syrian sites in response for chemical attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In video released Saturday morning, the USS Monterey, a guided missile cruiser deployed to Fifth Fleet, launches Tomahawk missiles at Syria as part of an allied strike on April 13, 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

President Donald Trump told the American people late Friday that a retaliatory strike against Syria for its chemical attacks against civilians was underway, and would be part of a sustained response against the Assad regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA combined operation … is now underway,\u201d Trump said at the White House, saying the operation involved the militaries of France, the U.S. and Britain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. Establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis briefed reporters late Friday about allied airstrikes in Syria, explaining why they were conducted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

At a 10 p.m. televised Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the attack involved naval assets and manned aircraft. They would not name ships or aircraft, but said they struck three targets: a scientific research center in Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs and a storage facility and command post near Homs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This image made from video shows a fighter jet landing at Akrotiri military British Royal Air Force Base, Cyprus, Saturday, April 14, 2018. Fighter jets were seen taking off from a British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus early on Saturday morning. Their destination was not revealed. The jets landed to Akrotiri Military Base, Cyprus, after the US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US, France and Britain together launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. (AP Video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mattis said that while there would be continued pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad, there would not be another round of strikes \u2015 as long as Assad does not use chemical weapons again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now this is a one-time shot,\u201d Mattis said.
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Mattis and Dunford also said that there were no reports at this time of U.S. or allied losses, but that Syrian air defenses did engage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe did have some initial surface to air activity from the Syrian regime,\u201d Dunford said. \u201cThat\u2019s the only retaliatory action at this time.\u201d
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Dunford said it was too early to determine if U.S. warplanes or cruise missiles fired on Syrian air defenses once they engaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\t