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​Syrian State TV Shows Suspected Chemical Weapons Lab Hit By Air Strikes

​Syrian State TV Shows Suspected Chemical Weapons Lab Hit By Air Strikes

The strikes were part of a joint operation by the United States, Britain and France

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Footage broadcast on Syrian state TV shows what is suspected to be a chemical weapons research centre, thought to have been hit by the recent air strikes.

The strikes were part of a joint operation by the United States, Britain and France, and were carried out as a response to last weekend's chemical attack by the Syrian regime.

According to Pentagon officials, the attacks targeted the heart of Syrian President Bashar Assad's schemes to develop chemical weapons, the Daily Mail reports.

Meanwhile, the Syrian military has said that over 100 missiles were fired against a military base in the country's Homs province, along with a research centre near Damascus.

PA

The Pentagon could not confirm how many of the missiles hit their targets, but Russian military forces claim that Syrian air defence systems managed to shoot down 71 of the 103 missiles.

In a televised statement, Trump revealed that he ordered the strike in response to the 'evil and despicable' chemical attack by the Syrian regime.

"The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons," he said.

PA

"Establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the United States."

He added: "To Iran and to Russia I ask - what kind of regime wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?

"The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No state can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators."

Trump also said that Russia must decide 'whether to continue on this dark path or come back to civilisation'.

Al-Ikhbariya

The eerie footage released by Syrian state TV shows buildings supposedly destroyed by the air strikes, along with piles of rubble and a burned-out vehicle.

The Syrian military has said that the missiles targeted a military base in Homs province, as well as a research centre in Barzeh - which was reportedly destroyed.

Defending Britain's decision to join the operation, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "This is the first time as Prime Minister that I have had to take the decision to commit our armed forces in combat - and it is not a decision I have taken lightly.

"I have done so because I judge this action to be in Britain's national interest. We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised - within Syria, on the streets of the UK, or anywhere else in our world.

"We would have preferred an alternative path. But on this occasion there is none."

Featured Image Credit: Al-Ikhbariya

Topics: World News, News, theresa may, united states, Donald Trump, France, UK, Syria, Britain