Syria strikes: Shocking images capture chemical weapons base destroyed by US, British and French forces

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Martin Coulter14 April 2018

These shocking images show the scale of destruction left by American, British and French forces in a series of targeted overnight strikes on Syria.

Soldiers can be seen inspecting the wreckage of buildings once part of the "Scientific Studies and Research Centre" in the Barzeh district of Damascus.

The US, UK and France launched strikes against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's regime in the early hours of Saturday morning in response to an alleged chemical attack on civilians.

US President Donald Trump praised the "perfectly executed strike" later in the day, adding "mission accomplished" in a string of tweets.

AP

Mr Trump thanked the UK and France "for their wisdom and the power of their fine military" in his first tweet since the US, UK and France launched missiles against Syria on Saturday.

He wrote: "A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"

AP

The president also hailed the his country's "great military", which he said "will soon be the finest our country has ever had", in the second of two tweets on Saturday.

Meanwhile in Britain, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to Theresa May, branding the strikes "legally questionable".

In the letter to Mrs May, Mr Corbyn wrote: "I believe that Parliament should have been consulted and voted on the matter. The UK Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament, not to the whims of a US President.

"I believe the action was legally questionable, and this morning the UN Secretary-General has said as much, reiterating that all countries must act in line with the UN Charter.

"You assured me that the Attorney General had given clear legal advice approving the action. I would therefore be grateful if you would publish this advice in full today."

Russia called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the aftermath of the strikes, denying a chemical attack had ever taken place.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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