The Pentagon has released footage detailing the recent Syrian missile strike, which was in response to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons against civilians in the town of Douma.
First, President Trump made the announcement that he ordered the U.S. military to launch the missile strike and highlighted the success of the strike that was made in early 2017 that caused a considerable amount of damage and destroyed “20 percent of the Syrian air force.”
“These are not actions of a man, they are crimes of a monster instead,” President Trump said when describing Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own people.
Next, prior to launching the missile strike, U.S. Air Force maintenance Airmen and aircrews conducted their final checks on a B-1 Bomber.
Then, a Tomahawk land attack missile was fired from the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey.
Massive amounts of smoke and bright glowing lights can be seen as the Tomahawk leaves the cruiser.
In the next video, the Tomahawk is seen being fired from the USS Monterey from another angle.
Then, another recently released video shows a Tomahawk missile being launched from the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS John Warner. This launch was conducted from the Mediterranean Sea.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made a statement following Trump’s announcement of the strike, which was conducted with the U.K. and France.
“As the world knows, the Syrian people have suffered terribly under the prolonged brutality of the Assad regime. On April 7, the regime decided to again defy the norms of civilized people, showing callous disregard for international law by using chemical weapons to murder women, men and children. We and our allies find these atrocities inexcusable. As our Commander in Chief, the President has the authority under Article II of the Constitution to use military force overseas to defend important U.S. national interests. The United States has an important national interest in averting a worsening catastrophe in Syria, and specifically deterring the use and proliferation of chemical weapons.”
“Clearly, the Assad regime did not get the message last year. This time, our allies and we have struck harder. Together, we have sent a clear message to Assad, and his murderous lieutenants, that they should not perpetrate another chemical weapons attack for which they will be held accountable,” Mattis continued.
The missile strikes were supported by the European Union, Israel and other allies, according to NBC News.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said that the use of force against Assad’s regime was “right and legal.”
Reporters in Damascus said that loud explosions were heard and the attacks turned the sky orange.
