BEIRUT — Loud explosions rocked Syria’s capital and filled the sky with heavy smoke early Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country’s alleged use of chemical weapons. It was not immediately clear whether Trump meant the allied military operation would extend beyond an initial nighttime round of missile strikes. Trump said the joint attack was expected to include barrages of cruise missiles launched from outside Syrian airspace. He described the main aim as establishing “a strong deterrent” against chemical weapons use. The allied operation comes a year after the U.S. missile strike that Trump said was meant to deter Assad from further use of chemical weapons.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 14, 2018 02:37 UTC