NATO also supported the coordinated strike launched by the US, the UK and France against Syria on Saturday morning.

"Despite sustained diplomatic efforts, the Syrian regime’s repeated use of chemical weapons against civilians has contributed to appalling human suffering since the start of the conflict in 2011. The use of such weapons is in flagrant violation of international standards and non-proliferation norms, multiple UN Security Council Resolutions, and the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria ratified in 2013.  NATO considers any use of chemical weapons by State or non-State actors to be a threat to international peace and security," its official statement read.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America, told reporters that three facilities were targeted.

These included a scientific research center in Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility in Homs, and a chemical weapons equipment storage facility and command post near Homs.

However, Syrian state TV reported that the missiles targeting Homs were intercepted and thus wasn't allowed to cause much damage.

According to Russia's Sputnik News, the missiles fired by the coordinated front was shot down by the Syrians defence using Russian air defense systems.

Meanwhile, China has slammed the UK, US and France for carrying out the strikes.

"As always, we oppose the use of force in international relations and call for respect for other countries' sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.

The statement added: "Any unilateral military action bypassing the Security Council runs contrary to the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and violates the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and will further complicate the Syrian issue."

The action has also been condemned by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Russia condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack against Syria, where Russian military personnel are assisting the legitimate government in its counterterrorism efforts," his official statement read.

Taking a swipe at the US, Putin added, "Through its actions, the US makes the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Syria even worse and brings suffering to civilians. In fact, the US panders to the terrorists who have been tormenting the Syrian people for seven years, leading to a wave of refugees fleeing this country and the region."

Read the full NATO statement here:

In the North Atlantic Council today the United States, France and United Kingdom briefed Allies on their joint military action on 14 April. They briefed that a significant body of information indicated that the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack against civilians in Douma on 7 April, and that their military action was limited to the Syrian regime’s facilities enabling the production and employment of chemical weapons. The three Allies emphasized that there was no practicable alternative to the use of force.

 

Allies expressed their full support for this action intended to degrade the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability and deter further chemical weapon attacks against the people of Syria. Chemical weapons cannot be used with impunity or become normalized. They are an immediate danger to the Syrian people and to our collective security. Allies regret that the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, established by UNSC Resolution 2235 (2015), to identify perpetrators of chemical attacks, was not renewed in November 2017.  Allies support international mechanisms to establish responsibility and prevent impunity for the use of chemical weapons.

 

Allies strongly condemned the repeated use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, and called for those responsible to be held to account.  Allies also called on the Syrian regime and its backers to allow rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.

 

Despite sustained diplomatic efforts, the Syrian regime’s repeated use of chemical weapons against civilians has contributed to appalling human suffering since the start of the conflict in 2011.  The use of such weapons is in flagrant violation of international standards and non-proliferation norms, multiple UN Security Council Resolutions, and the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria ratified in 2013.  NATO considers any use of chemical weapons by State or non-State actors to be a threat to international peace and security.

 

Allies reiterate their support for UN-led efforts to achieve a lasting political resolution to the conflict that is consistent with UNSCR 2254 (2015) and the Geneva Communique (2012) and call on all members of the UN Security Council to uphold their responsibilities. In this regard, the Allies call on all supporters of the Syrian regime, notably Russia, to exercise responsibility to ensure that the Syrian regime participates constructively in the UN-led Geneva process.

 

Allies took this opportunity to restate our commitment to the Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Da’esh, as defeating terrorism in all its forms remains a key objective for our countries and a key challenge for the stability of the region.

Image: www.nato.int