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| Pentagon Says Syria Strikes Hit ‘Heart’ of Chemical Weapons Program | Pentagon Says Syria Strikes Hit ‘Heart’ of Chemical Weapons Program |
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| WASHINGTON — Defense Department officials said on Saturday that American-led strikes against Syria had taken out the “heart” of President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons program, but acknowledged that the Syrian government most likely retained some ability to again attack its own people with chemical agents. | WASHINGTON — Defense Department officials said on Saturday that American-led strikes against Syria had taken out the “heart” of President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons program, but acknowledged that the Syrian government most likely retained some ability to again attack its own people with chemical agents. |
| Warplanes and ships from the United States, Britain and France launched more than 100 missiles at three chemical weapons storage and research facilities near Damascus and Homs, the officials told reporters, in an operation that President Trump and Pentagon leaders hailed as a success. | Warplanes and ships from the United States, Britain and France launched more than 100 missiles at three chemical weapons storage and research facilities near Damascus and Homs, the officials told reporters, in an operation that President Trump and Pentagon leaders hailed as a success. |
| “A perfectly executed strike last night,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “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!” | “A perfectly executed strike last night,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “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!” |
| The strikes were the second time in just over a year that President Trump had sent missiles crashing into Syrian military targets, adding American firepower to one of the most complex and multisided conflicts in a generation. | |
| Beyond the immediate question of whether the strikes actually accomplished the stated goal of diminishing Syria’s capacity to make and use chemical agents, the new strikes posed the risk of drawing the United States more deeply into a conflict in which Russia and Iran have more invested than ever in keeping Mr. Assad in power. | |
| The United States is “locked and loaded” to strike again if Mr. Assad again is believed to have used chemical weapons, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council on Saturday at an emergency meeting called by Russia. | |
| “We are confident that we have crippled Syria’s chemical weapons program. We are prepared to sustain this pressure, if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will,” Ms. Haley said. | |
| She said that Russia had failed to abide by a 2013 promise to ensure that Syria got rid of its chemical weapons stockpiles | |
| “While Russia was busy protecting the regime, Assad took notice,” she said. “The regime knew that it could act with impunity, and it did.” | |
| The strikes hit Syria before dawn on Saturday, with loud explosions jolting residents of Damascus, the capital, from their beds as their walls and windows shook. American officials said the offensive was to punish Syria for what they called a chemical weapons strike last Saturday on civilians in Douma. | The strikes hit Syria before dawn on Saturday, with loud explosions jolting residents of Damascus, the capital, from their beds as their walls and windows shook. American officials said the offensive was to punish Syria for what they called a chemical weapons strike last Saturday on civilians in Douma. |
| A group from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which had announced a fact-finding mission to determine if chemical weapons were used in the Douma attack, arrived in Damascus on Saturday morning, the group said in a statement. | |
| A statement by the Syrian military said 110 missiles had been fired. Three people were injured in Homs, it said. Videos from Damascus showed Syrian air defense missiles launching into a dark night sky, and the Russian military said that at one Syrian air base, all 12 cruise missiles that targeted the site had been shot down. | A statement by the Syrian military said 110 missiles had been fired. Three people were injured in Homs, it said. Videos from Damascus showed Syrian air defense missiles launching into a dark night sky, and the Russian military said that at one Syrian air base, all 12 cruise missiles that targeted the site had been shot down. |
| Defense Department officials batted down those claims, saying that the entire American-led operation was over and the targets were destroyed before Syria launched any of the 40 missiles it fired into the air. | Defense Department officials batted down those claims, saying that the entire American-led operation was over and the targets were destroyed before Syria launched any of the 40 missiles it fired into the air. |
| “Taken together, these attacks were able to overwhelm the Syrian air defense system,” Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the Pentagon’s Joint Staff director, said at a news conference. “None of our aircraft involved were successfully engaged by Syrian defense forces.” | “Taken together, these attacks were able to overwhelm the Syrian air defense system,” Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the Pentagon’s Joint Staff director, said at a news conference. “None of our aircraft involved were successfully engaged by Syrian defense forces.” |
| He added that the barrage of missiles had hit their targets within a couple of minutes at most. He said that all three targets had been destroyed, and that all warplanes had returned safely to base. | He added that the barrage of missiles had hit their targets within a couple of minutes at most. He said that all three targets had been destroyed, and that all warplanes had returned safely to base. |
| But the strikes were limited, with an eye on making sure they did not draw retaliation from Russia and Iran and set off a wider conflict. For that reason, Mr. Assad may still be able to use chemical agents in the future. | |
| “I would say there’s still a residual element of the Syrian program that’s out there,” General McKenzie said. “I’m not going to say that they’re going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they’ll think long and hard about it.” | “I would say there’s still a residual element of the Syrian program that’s out there,” General McKenzie said. “I’m not going to say that they’re going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they’ll think long and hard about it.” |
| The limited nature of the strikes left some observers underwhelmed. | The limited nature of the strikes left some observers underwhelmed. |
| “If this is it, Assad should be relieved,” tweeted Randa Slim, an analyst at the Middle East Institute. | “If this is it, Assad should be relieved,” tweeted Randa Slim, an analyst at the Middle East Institute. |
| Sure enough, early Saturday morning, Mr. Assad’s office posted a video that appeared to show him strolling into work in a suit and tie and carrying a briefcase as if nothing had happened. | Sure enough, early Saturday morning, Mr. Assad’s office posted a video that appeared to show him strolling into work in a suit and tie and carrying a briefcase as if nothing had happened. |
| Condemnation of the strikes from Syria’s allies was swift. | |
| “The United States and its allies continue to demonstrate blatant disregard for international law,” said the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily A. Nebenzya, on Saturday. “It’s time for Washington to learn that the internal code of behavior regarding the use of force is regulated by the United Nations Charter,” he added. | |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, called the strikes “a crime” and the leaders of the United States, France and Britain “criminals.” | |
| “But they will not benefit from this attack, just as they committed similar crimes over the past years during their presence in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan and did not benefit from them,” he said. | “But they will not benefit from this attack, just as they committed similar crimes over the past years during their presence in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan and did not benefit from them,” he said. |
| There were no signs of immediate retaliation, suggesting that Mr. Assad and his allies planned to weather the storm, perhaps in the belief that the United States was mostly concerned with avoiding deeper involvement. | There were no signs of immediate retaliation, suggesting that Mr. Assad and his allies planned to weather the storm, perhaps in the belief that the United States was mostly concerned with avoiding deeper involvement. |
| “If I were Assad, I would be thinking, ‘Let them get it out of their system. Things are still trending in the right direction today,’ ” said Faysal Itani, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. “Nothing that Trump said on television really touched on the Syrian conflict.” | “If I were Assad, I would be thinking, ‘Let them get it out of their system. Things are still trending in the right direction today,’ ” said Faysal Itani, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. “Nothing that Trump said on television really touched on the Syrian conflict.” |
| In announcing the strikes Friday night, Mr. Trump suggested that more American action could be on the way. “We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” Mr. Trump said. Other officials, however, said the United States and its allies were done for now. | In announcing the strikes Friday night, Mr. Trump suggested that more American action could be on the way. “We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” Mr. Trump said. Other officials, however, said the United States and its allies were done for now. |
| Saturday’s strikes were more extensive than those Mr. Trump launched in the wake of another reported chemical attack last year, but much has changed in Syria in the meantime to make Mr. Assad and his allies more secure. | Saturday’s strikes were more extensive than those Mr. Trump launched in the wake of another reported chemical attack last year, but much has changed in Syria in the meantime to make Mr. Assad and his allies more secure. |
| The rebels who once threatened his control have been routed from all of Syria’s major cities, and even from smaller strongholds like Douma, the last town they held near Damascus, which they surrendered after the reported chemical attack killed dozens of people last weekend. | |
| Meanwhile, the war has further shattered Syria, and international powers including the United States, Russia, Turkey, Israel and Iran — along with militant groups including Hezbollah — have intervened to fight for their interests. | Meanwhile, the war has further shattered Syria, and international powers including the United States, Russia, Turkey, Israel and Iran — along with militant groups including Hezbollah — have intervened to fight for their interests. |
| Iran and Russia have expanded their military reach. Russia has a presence on most Syrian military bases, and its air force has been essential to Mr. Assad’s recent advances. Iran has used the chaos of war to strengthen its proxies to deter and possibly confront Israel. | Iran and Russia have expanded their military reach. Russia has a presence on most Syrian military bases, and its air force has been essential to Mr. Assad’s recent advances. Iran has used the chaos of war to strengthen its proxies to deter and possibly confront Israel. |
| The United States still has about 2,000 troops in eastern Syria working with a Kurdish-led militia to fight the jihadists of the Islamic State. But with the militants now nearly defeated, American officials have started thinking about when to withdraw. Before the suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma, Mr. Trump had said he wanted to bring them home soon. | The United States still has about 2,000 troops in eastern Syria working with a Kurdish-led militia to fight the jihadists of the Islamic State. But with the militants now nearly defeated, American officials have started thinking about when to withdraw. Before the suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma, Mr. Trump had said he wanted to bring them home soon. |
| While the United States called for Mr. Assad to leave power early in the conflict and gave cash and arms to the rebels who sought to overthrow him, it has more recently resigned itself to his remaining in power. That was partly because it feared the vacuum that could emerge if Mr. Assad’s government collapsed, and partly because it was clear that Russia and Iran were willing to invest more in winning than the United States was. | While the United States called for Mr. Assad to leave power early in the conflict and gave cash and arms to the rebels who sought to overthrow him, it has more recently resigned itself to his remaining in power. That was partly because it feared the vacuum that could emerge if Mr. Assad’s government collapsed, and partly because it was clear that Russia and Iran were willing to invest more in winning than the United States was. |
| So Saturday’s strikes remained focused on punishing him for using chemical weapons. Last year’s strikes had the same goal, but only succeeded for a limited time. | So Saturday’s strikes remained focused on punishing him for using chemical weapons. Last year’s strikes had the same goal, but only succeeded for a limited time. |
| “Military interventions have a shelf life,” said Andrew J. Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who studies Syria. “For a certain time, it prevented them from using chemical weapons, but after a while it dissipated. So we’ll have to wait to see how this attack is different.” | “Military interventions have a shelf life,” said Andrew J. Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who studies Syria. “For a certain time, it prevented them from using chemical weapons, but after a while it dissipated. So we’ll have to wait to see how this attack is different.” |
| Mr. Assad’s allies probably know that any direct retaliation against the United States could quickly escalate into a war they do not want. But they could look for other ways to respond, by striking American allies in Iraq, Syria and Israel, or brutalizing Syrian civilians with conventional weapons in areas the rebels still control. | Mr. Assad’s allies probably know that any direct retaliation against the United States could quickly escalate into a war they do not want. But they could look for other ways to respond, by striking American allies in Iraq, Syria and Israel, or brutalizing Syrian civilians with conventional weapons in areas the rebels still control. |
| But they have made it clear that they will seek to protect their substantial investments of blood and treasure. | But they have made it clear that they will seek to protect their substantial investments of blood and treasure. |
| Before the strikes, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, warned the United States against taking “reckless steps,” comparing American strikes in Syria to its interventions in Libya and Iraq. “Now, I hope, no one will gamble on embarking on such a risky venture.” | Before the strikes, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, warned the United States against taking “reckless steps,” comparing American strikes in Syria to its interventions in Libya and Iraq. “Now, I hope, no one will gamble on embarking on such a risky venture.” |
| For Iran, Mr. Assad’s survival is a priority. | For Iran, Mr. Assad’s survival is a priority. |
| On Thursday, Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s foreign policy czar, reiterated his country’s support for the Syrian government during a visit to eastern Ghouta, which contains Douma. | On Thursday, Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s foreign policy czar, reiterated his country’s support for the Syrian government during a visit to eastern Ghouta, which contains Douma. |
| “We will stand by Syria’s government against any foreign aggression,” he said, adding that no American strikes would affect the presence of Iranian troops, nor their efforts to build proxy militias in Syria. | “We will stand by Syria’s government against any foreign aggression,” he said, adding that no American strikes would affect the presence of Iranian troops, nor their efforts to build proxy militias in Syria. |
| “Iran and Syria have never been as powerful as they are today,” Mr. Velayati said. “Those who will remain will be the true owners of Syria, and those who will be destroyed are the Americans and the violators.” | “Iran and Syria have never been as powerful as they are today,” Mr. Velayati said. “Those who will remain will be the true owners of Syria, and those who will be destroyed are the Americans and the violators.” |
| The Israeli government expressed some satisfaction with the American attack on Syria. “Last year, President Trump made it clear that the use of chemical weapons crosses a red line. Tonight, under American leadership, the United States, France and the United Kingdom acted accordingly,” a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday morning. | The Israeli government expressed some satisfaction with the American attack on Syria. “Last year, President Trump made it clear that the use of chemical weapons crosses a red line. Tonight, under American leadership, the United States, France and the United Kingdom acted accordingly,” a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday morning. |
| The attack came amid heightened tensions over Israeli opposition to Iran’s growing presence in neighboring Syria, and the overnight strikes appeared to do little to assuage Israeli concerns. | The attack came amid heightened tensions over Israeli opposition to Iran’s growing presence in neighboring Syria, and the overnight strikes appeared to do little to assuage Israeli concerns. |
| In a not-so-veiled threat to the Assad government, the Foreign Ministry statement added: “Syria continues to perpetrate murderous acts and to serve as a base for those and other operations, including those of Iran, which place its territory, its forces and its leadership in danger.” | In a not-so-veiled threat to the Assad government, the Foreign Ministry statement added: “Syria continues to perpetrate murderous acts and to serve as a base for those and other operations, including those of Iran, which place its territory, its forces and its leadership in danger.” |
| Mr. Trump made it clear when announcing the strikes that he does not consider it the job of the United States to fix problems in the Middle East. | Mr. Trump made it clear when announcing the strikes that he does not consider it the job of the United States to fix problems in the Middle East. |
| “No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the Middle East,” he said. “It’s a troubled place. We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place.” | “No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the Middle East,” he said. “It’s a troubled place. We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place.” |
| He did, however, speak of working closely with American allies in the region such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar to ensure that Iran did not capitalize on the defeat of the Islamic State. | He did, however, speak of working closely with American allies in the region such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar to ensure that Iran did not capitalize on the defeat of the Islamic State. |
| “These strategic messages are more damaging to the regime than the strikes themselves,” said Hassan Hassan, a senior fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. | “These strategic messages are more damaging to the regime than the strikes themselves,” said Hassan Hassan, a senior fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. |
| Still, such an international coalition would be starting years behind what Russia and Iran have already done, and some of the Arab allies Mr. Trump mentioned are not even speaking to each other. Mr. Trump has so far shown little penchant for the kind of strategic alliance-building it would take to change the direction of the war. | Still, such an international coalition would be starting years behind what Russia and Iran have already done, and some of the Arab allies Mr. Trump mentioned are not even speaking to each other. Mr. Trump has so far shown little penchant for the kind of strategic alliance-building it would take to change the direction of the war. |
| Some Syrians, however, took solace in the sight of smoke rising from Mr. Assad’s military bases. | Some Syrians, however, took solace in the sight of smoke rising from Mr. Assad’s military bases. |
| “For many Syrians, the fact that their butcher was punished is incredibly cathartic,” Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, which opposes the government, wrote on Twitter. “But war continues.” | “For many Syrians, the fact that their butcher was punished is incredibly cathartic,” Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, which opposes the government, wrote on Twitter. “But war continues.” |
| Still, the strikes were unlikely to make much difference to the people of Douma, nor to the millions of other Syrians who have been killed, wounded or displaced by Mr. Assad’s forces. | Still, the strikes were unlikely to make much difference to the people of Douma, nor to the millions of other Syrians who have been killed, wounded or displaced by Mr. Assad’s forces. |
| After Douma’s rebels surrendered, residents had to decide whether to stay in their homes under a government that had bombed them or be bused to a part of the country hundreds of miles away. | After Douma’s rebels surrendered, residents had to decide whether to stay in their homes under a government that had bombed them or be bused to a part of the country hundreds of miles away. |
| No American action would keep them in their homes, they said, or restore a part of what they had lost. | No American action would keep them in their homes, they said, or restore a part of what they had lost. |
| “We have heard the threats, but the response will come after the people of the town have been forced to leave their homes,” said a medic from Douma who declined to give his full name because of his fears. “There was lots of talk, but until now nothing has happened.” | “We have heard the threats, but the response will come after the people of the town have been forced to leave their homes,” said a medic from Douma who declined to give his full name because of his fears. “There was lots of talk, but until now nothing has happened.” |