Saudi Arabia, Israel praise US strike on Syrian airbase

ANKARA (AA) – Saudi Arabia and Israel both praised the U.S. airstrike on a Syrian regime military airbase in Homs carried out early Friday.

Saudi Arabia announced its "full support for the U.S. military operations on military targets in Syria," according to a statement published by the official Saudi SPA news agency.

The news agency quoted an official source in the Saudi Foreign Ministry saying, "We hail the courageous decision of U.S. President Donald Trump, which represents a response to the crimes of this [Assad] regime against his people in light of the failure of the international community to stop him."

The source added, “These operations came in response to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians, which claimed the lives of dozens, including children and women.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed the U.S. airstrike on Shayrat Airbase.

"In words and actions President Trump sent a strong and clear response: The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable," Netanyahu said in a statement

"Israel fully and unequivocally supports the president’s decision and hopes the clear message will reverberate not only in Damascus but also in Tehran, Pyongyang, and elsewhere," he added.

The U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military airbase American officials believe was used to carry out a deadly chemical attack Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed.

The missiles were fired from two U.S. destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean and hit the airbase at approximately 3:45 a.m. Syrian local time Friday (0045GMT). Aircraft, hardened aircraft shelters, petroleum and logistical storage, ammunition supply bunkers, air defense systems, and radars were targeted, the Pentagon said.