UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM EC PRESIDENT JUNCKER AND SPANISH GOVT
By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet, Sorwar Alam and Baris Seckin
BRUSSELS (AA) - European Council President Donald Tusk Friday voiced support for the U.S. missile strikes in Syria.
"U.S. strikes show needed resolve against barbaric chemical attacks. EU will work with the U.S. to end brutality in Syria," Tusk wrote on his Twitter account.
The U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military air base American officials believe was used to carry out a deadly chemical attack Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also expressed his support to the U.S. military action against the “horrific chemical weapons attack on civilians” in Syria.
The commission’s spokeswoman Mina Andreeva read out the statement from Juncker urging the “repeated use of such weapons must be answered.”
"The U.S. has informed the EU that these strikes were limited and seek to deter further chemical weapons atrocities," the statement said.
"There is a clear distinction between air strikes on military targets and the use of chemical weapons against civilians.
“Efforts to stem the spiral of violence in Syria and work towards a lasting peace should be redoubled,” the statement continued, adding that “only a political transition can lead to such an outcome.”
“President Juncker and the EU Commission, as a whole, stand ready to play their full part in this,” it concluded.
Spanish government also released a statement describing the U.S. missile attack as "measured" and "appropriate" answer to Assad regime's brutality on civilians.
It said the Spain was in “strong cooperation” with its allies and supported actions taken under the framework of international treaties in Syrian issue.
The Tuesday’s chemical attack in northwestern Syria killed 100 people and injured around 500 others.
The missiles were fired from two U.S. destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean and hit the air base 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.