Images of Tomahawk missiles being launchedpublished at 03:30 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
The Pentagon has released images of some of the cruise missiles being launched from the Mediterranean.
Image source, Pentagon
Image source, PentagonSummary
Fifty-nine Tomahawk missiles targeted Shayrat airfield near Homs, Syria
President Trump said the attack was "in vital national security interest" of US
The action followed a suspected chemical weapons attack on civilians in a rebel-held town
The Syrian army says the strikes killed six and caused "extensive material damage"
Russia, a close Syrian ally, condemned the US "aggression" and suspended a joint air safety agreement
Images of Tomahawk missiles being launchedpublished at 03:30 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Image source, PentagonImage source, Pentagon'Stay the hell out of Syria': What Trump said in 2013published at 03:30 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
When Barack Obama was weighing intervention in Syria in 2013 Trump repeatedly tweeted warning against any kind of US military involvement.
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End of twitter post 3Daughter Ivanka and aide Steve Bannon presentpublished at 03:21 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Steve Bannon (centre) and Ivanka Trump (right) watch as the president makes his statement
Top aides were in attendance as he delivered his statement, including Steve Bannon, Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus, and daughter Ivanka Trump.
Dina Powell, the deputy national security adviser for strategy, and Wilbur Ross, the secretary of commerce, were also there.
The president delivered the remarks with the help of two teleprompters and stuck to his script, according to a pool report from Mar-a-Lago.
He did not answer shouted questions as he left the room.
Watch Trump deliver Syria statementpublished at 03:17 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
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End of twitter postRussian troops 'told to leave base before strikes'published at 03:16 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Citing a defence official, Foreign Policy journalist Paul McLeary reports that Russian troops stationed at the air base were informed by the US military of the imminent strikes.
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End of twitter post'A very barbaric attack' - full statement from President Trump published at 03:11 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
My fellow Americans: On Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.
Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many.
Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror.
Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.
There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and ignored the urging of the UN Security Council.
Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.
Tonight, I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types.
We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who have passed. And we hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will, in the end, prevail.
Goodnight. And God bless America and the entire world. Thank you.
US political reactionpublished at 03:08 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Republican and Democratic politicians react on Twitter.
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End of twitter post 3Statement on Syrian state TVpublished at 03:00 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
According to Reuters, a short statement read on Syrian state TV confirmed the strikes.
The statement said: "American aggression targets Syrian military targets with a number of missiles."
Tomahawk missiles targeted airbase near Homs - reportspublished at 02:57 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
About 60 Tomahawk missiles were launched at 20:45 EST (01:45 BST), according to US media reports.
The missiles targeted runways, aircraft and fuel storage at al-Shayrat airfield, a Syrian airbase near the city of Homs.
Strikes send 'important message' - US senatorspublished at 02:55 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who have long pushed for stronger action against Syria, have issued a joint statement.
They saluted the US forces carrying out the strike, adding: "They have sent an important message the United States will no longer stand idly by as Assad, aided and abetted by Putin’s Russia, slaughters innocent Syrians with chemical weapons and barrel bombs".
President Trump statement on strikespublished at 02:48 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
BreakingIn a statement, President Trump said he authorised the strike on Syria because there was no dispute that it used "banned chemical weapons".
Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, he said he had acted in the "vital national security interest of the United States".
He said he was calling "on all civilised nations in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria".
Image caption, Trump giving his remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Florida
US air strikes on Syriapublished at 02:38 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
President Donald Trump has ordered the launch of cruise missiles to target an airbase in Syria, US officials have said.
More than 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from US Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean.