Trump on Syria strikes: 'Mission Accomplished!'
Germany backs 'necessary and appropriate' strikes in Syria, Merkel says
Donald Trump. PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON DC:
President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the pre-dawn strikes against Syria's regime carried out jointly by the US, Britain and France, saying they "could not have had a better result."
Western officials said a barrage of cruise and air-to-land missiles hit what they said were sites linked to chemical weapons development, in retaliation after a suspected toxic gas attack a week ago on the rebel-held town of Douma, in the Damascus suburbs.
Defiant Trump warns missiles 'will be coming' over Syria attack
"A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military," Trump tweeted.
"Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"
Branding last week's alleged chemical attack the "crimes of a monster," Trump announced the military action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in a White House address late Friday, defying fierce warnings from Damascus ally Russia.
US, world powers warned 'fuelling Syrian war may lead to WWIII'
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis called the strikes a "one-time shot" with no additional military action planned for now.
In 2003, then US president George W Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq aboard a US aircraft carrier returning from the Gulf -- with a banner that read "Mission Accomplished" behind him -- a declaration that proved premature.
The German Reaction
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday the air strikes against the Syrian regime were "necessary and appropriate" after the suspected chemical weapons attacks that killed dozens in Douma.
"We support the fact that our US, British and French allies ... assumed their responsibilities. The military intervention was necessary and appropriate," Merkel said in a statement.
"Everything leads us to believe that (Assad) bears responsibility" for the Douma attack, Merkel said.
The chancellor on Thursday had ruled out Germany joining any military action against Syria.
Who's who in the Syria conflict?
Merkel added: "A century after the end of World War I... we must fight against the erosion of the (international) convention on chemical weapons".
"Germany will undertake, in a determined way, diplomatic efforts to support this," Merkel said.
President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the pre-dawn strikes against Syria's regime carried out jointly by the US, Britain and France, saying they "could not have had a better result."
Western officials said a barrage of cruise and air-to-land missiles hit what they said were sites linked to chemical weapons development, in retaliation after a suspected toxic gas attack a week ago on the rebel-held town of Douma, in the Damascus suburbs.
Defiant Trump warns missiles 'will be coming' over Syria attack
"A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military," Trump tweeted.
"Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"
Branding last week's alleged chemical attack the "crimes of a monster," Trump announced the military action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in a White House address late Friday, defying fierce warnings from Damascus ally Russia.
US, world powers warned 'fuelling Syrian war may lead to WWIII'
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis called the strikes a "one-time shot" with no additional military action planned for now.
In 2003, then US president George W Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq aboard a US aircraft carrier returning from the Gulf -- with a banner that read "Mission Accomplished" behind him -- a declaration that proved premature.
The German Reaction
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday the air strikes against the Syrian regime were "necessary and appropriate" after the suspected chemical weapons attacks that killed dozens in Douma.
"We support the fact that our US, British and French allies ... assumed their responsibilities. The military intervention was necessary and appropriate," Merkel said in a statement.
"Everything leads us to believe that (Assad) bears responsibility" for the Douma attack, Merkel said.
The chancellor on Thursday had ruled out Germany joining any military action against Syria.
Who's who in the Syria conflict?
Merkel added: "A century after the end of World War I... we must fight against the erosion of the (international) convention on chemical weapons".
"Germany will undertake, in a determined way, diplomatic efforts to support this," Merkel said.