US Says Air Strikes Cripple Syria Chemical Weapons Program

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, launches a strike as part of the multinational response to Syria's use of chemical weapons is seen in this image from Al Udeid Air Base, Doha, Qatar, April 14, 2018.

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missile overnight in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Syria a week ago. Pentagon said were three chemical weapon facilities, including a research and development center in Damascus Barzeh.

The bombing was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his superpower ally Russia, However it's 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 and it was killed at least half a million people.

A picture showing the wreckage of a building described as part of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus, during a press tour organised by the Syrian information ministry yesterday. Photo: Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images

U.S President Donald Trump called the operation a success

"We believe that hitting Barzeh, in particular, we've attack the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon program, "U.S Lieutenant General 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 western countries said the strike were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapon attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in douma on april 7 killed up to 75 innocent people. They blame assad government for the attack.

Damascus skies erupt with service to air missile fire as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital Damascus. Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP Photo

Ten hours after the missile hit, smoke was still rising from the remains of five destroyed buildings of the Syrian scientific center in barzeh, where a Syrian employee said medical components were developed.

There were no immediate reports of casualities.

Russia had promised to respond to any attack on its ally, but the pentagon said no Russian air defence systems were used.

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

Satellite image 2018 DigitalGlobe

Inspector form 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.

The western assault involved more missiles than a U.S attack last year but struck targets limited to Syria's chemical weapons facilities.

Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundred innocent people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned.