Trump, May, Macron issue statements on joint air strike against Syria

US President Donald Trump ordered an air strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in coordination with his British and French allies early Saturday. He made the announcement at the White House, saying: “A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now underway. We thank them both."To Iran and to Russia, I ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace. “America does not seek an indefinite presence in Syria, under no circumstances. We cannot purge the world of evil or act everywhere where there is tyranny."

Britain prime minister issues statement

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday she had authorized British forces to conduct precision air-launched cruise missile strikes on Syria to degrade its chemical weapons capability, saying there was no alternative to military action.
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Four Royal Air Force Tornado jets using Storm Shadow missiles had taken part in the attack on a military facility near Homs where it was assessed Syria had stockpiled chemicals, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said."This is not about intervening in a civil war. It is not about regime change," May said in a statement. "We are acting together with our American and French allies. In Douma, last Saturday, a chemical weapons attack killed up to 75 people, including young children, in circumstances of pure horror. "We have sought to use every possible diplomatic channel to achieve this. But our efforts have been repeatedly thwarted. Even this week the Russians vetoed a Resolution at the UN Security Council which would have established an independent investigation into the Douma attack. So there is no practicable alternative to the use of force to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Regime," she said.

French president issues statement

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that he had ordered a military intervention in Syria alongside the United States and Britain in an attack on the chemical weapons arsenal of the country's regime. "On April 7, dozens of men, women and children were massacred in Douma, with the use of a chemical weapon in a total violation of international rules ... The red line established by France in May 2017 was crossed," Macron said. Macron, who tweeted a picture of himself in a meeting room with military and diplomatic advisers, said a debate about France's military involvement would take place in parliament. The French air force has been active in Syria since 2015 to fight Islamic State but it was the first time it carried out an attack against the Syrian regime.