President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” to strike again if the Syrian government carried out new chemical attacks.
The warning came just hours after the U.S., U.K., and France struck three Syrian sites in response to a suspected deadly chemical attack in the town of Douma a week ago.
The Syrian government however denies any chemical use, saying the attack was fabricated by rebels.
Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters that the strikes “successfully hit every target.”
Russia, Syria’s military backer, disagreed with that report however, saying that Syrian air defense systems intercepted 71 out of 103 cruise missiles.
Russia then sought a condemnation of the early morning strikes at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting, ensuing in a heated exchange.
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, read out a quote from President Vladimir Putin accusing the allies of “cynical disdain” in acting without waiting for the results of a chemical watchdog investigation into the Douma incident.
US envoy Nikki Haley said the strikes were “justified, legitimate and proportionate”.
She confirmed Trump’s warning to the Council, that the U.S. would be ready to strike again in case another chemical attack was used in Syria.
“I spoke to the president this morning and he said, ‘if the Syrian regime uses this poisonous gas again, the United States is locked and loaded’.”
