France, the United Kingdom and the United States initiated precision air strikes on Syrian installations involved in the Syrian regime’s use of Chemical weapons against its own people, on early Saturday morning, Syrian time.
The strike was launched as a response to the chemical weapon attack on 7 April in Douma which killed up to 75 people, including young children; a significant body of information, including intelligence, indicated that the Syrian regime was responsible for this latest attack.
United States has not revealed its assets involved in the Syrian strike but multiple U.S guided-missile warships launching Tomahawk land attack missiles and U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer heavy bombers were involved.
Unconfirmed reports says US Air Force's B-1Bs used AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missile, marking operational debut for the stealthy long range weapon.
US missiles targeted a military scientific research center in Barzah, Damascus, where the chemical weapons were allegedly produced.
The French air strike group included at least four Dassault Rafale fighter jets armed with the MBDA SCALP-EG (MBDA Storm Shadow) air launched cruise missiles, flown from air base in France.
The strike also marked the first operational use of MdCM naval cruise missile - launched from French Navy FREMM Frigate.
The UK element of the carefully coordinated joint action was contributed by four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s based at RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus.
The Tornados, flown by 31 Squadron the Goldstars, were supported by a RAF Voyager tanker aircraft.
GR4s launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility – a former missile base – some fifteen miles west of Homs, where the regime is assessed to keep chemical weapon precursors stockpiled in breach of Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
UK Defense ministry said careful scientific analysis was applied to determine where best to target the Storm Shadows to maximise the destruction of the stockpiled chemicals and to minimise any risks of contamination to the surrounding area.
The facility which was struck is located some distance from any known concentrations of civilian habitation, reducing yet further any such risk.
Detailed analysis of the effectiveness of the strike is currently underway, but initial indications are that the precision of the Storm Shadow weapons and meticulous target planning have resulted in a successful attack.
Syrian Air Defense reportedly shot down several of these subsonic cruise missiles employing S-200, Pantsir-S1/2, Buk-M2E, S-125/S-1252M, SA-8, SA-2 air defense systems.
| French Rafale taking off for the Syrian mission on April 14 |
United States has not revealed its assets involved in the Syrian strike but multiple U.S guided-missile warships launching Tomahawk land attack missiles and U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer heavy bombers were involved.
Unconfirmed reports says US Air Force's B-1Bs used AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missile, marking operational debut for the stealthy long range weapon.
US missiles targeted a military scientific research center in Barzah, Damascus, where the chemical weapons were allegedly produced.
The French air strike group included at least four Dassault Rafale fighter jets armed with the MBDA SCALP-EG (MBDA Storm Shadow) air launched cruise missiles, flown from air base in France.
The strike also marked the first operational use of MdCM naval cruise missile - launched from French Navy FREMM Frigate.
The UK element of the carefully coordinated joint action was contributed by four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s based at RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus.
The Tornados, flown by 31 Squadron the Goldstars, were supported by a RAF Voyager tanker aircraft.
GR4s launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility – a former missile base – some fifteen miles west of Homs, where the regime is assessed to keep chemical weapon precursors stockpiled in breach of Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
| RAF Tornado GR4 being prepared for the strike mission at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. |
UK Defense ministry said careful scientific analysis was applied to determine where best to target the Storm Shadows to maximise the destruction of the stockpiled chemicals and to minimise any risks of contamination to the surrounding area.
The facility which was struck is located some distance from any known concentrations of civilian habitation, reducing yet further any such risk.
Detailed analysis of the effectiveness of the strike is currently underway, but initial indications are that the precision of the Storm Shadow weapons and meticulous target planning have resulted in a successful attack.
Syrian Air Defense reportedly shot down several of these subsonic cruise missiles employing S-200, Pantsir-S1/2, Buk-M2E, S-125/S-1252M, SA-8, SA-2 air defense systems.
This is the second time the United States struck Assad’s chemical network. In April 2017, Trump ordered an attack against the Shayrat air base after Syrian aircraft at the base dropped bombs containing the nerve agent sarin. Some 58 missiles hit the aircraft and chemical weapons facilities at the base.
