US, allies launch missile strikes in Syria: Story in points

The United States, United Kingdom and France launched missile strikes on alleged chemical weapons sites in Syria on Friday.

Quick updates:

• The bombings were in response to a chemical attack near Damascus that killed more than 40 people last weekend and was reportedly carried out by president Bashar al-Assad.
• US president Donald Trump blamed Assad for the chemical attacks and said "these are not the actions of a man. They are crimes of a monster instead," reported The New York Times.
• During his address from the White House Diplomatic Room, Trump said the allied strikes were being carried out to deter the production, spread and use of chemical weapons.
• Trump said that the strike is "a vital national security interest of the United States".
• "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents," Trump added.
• Till now three targets— a scientific research facility in Damascus which reportedly manufactures chemical and biological weapons, a chemical weapons storage facility in the west of Homs and a chemical weapons equipment storage, which is also near Homs have been bombed.

• A Syrian state television said that their government was responding to "the American aggression" had reported that 13 missiles had been shot down by their air defenses near Al-Kiswa, a town south of Damascus.
• Here's a video of the French fighter jets taking off to strike in Syria.

• Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain also seems to be thinking along the same lines as Trump. She said that the allied strikes on the Syrian government's chemical weapons sites are not only being carried out to protect innocent civilians, but also to prevent such attacks from becoming an international norm, reported NYT.
• Emmanuel Macron also criticised the chemical attack on Twitter.

• The strike on Syria has not gone down well with many and people have taken to Twitter to condemn the attack