Video allegedly showing both the US-led coalition airstrikes on Damascus and Syrian anti-air defense systems in action quickly began trending on social media Friday night.
WATCH:
#Syria: sounds of fighting over #Damascus as regime targets are being taken out by the #US pic.twitter.com/PFLkObBTdn
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) April 14, 2018
WATCH:
Just now: Syrian Air Defense successfully intercepts cruise missile in Damascus pic.twitter.com/N2UFa4Cy4X
— Leith Aboufadel (@leithfadel) April 14, 2018
WATCH:
Syria airstrike targets:
-Scientific research center, located in the greater Damascus area; -A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs;
-In the vicinity of the second target, contained both chemical weapons equipment storage facility and important command post pic.twitter.com/C4FjUIw6wg— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 14, 2018
Syrian state television reported that Assad’s air defense systems shot down 13 coalition missiles. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford confirmed the US-led strikes were engaged by Assad’s systems but declined to confirm the number of missiles disabled.
Retired Rear Admiral John Kirby detailed on CNN the military capabilities of the US, British and French forces in the region that could have launched Friday night’s attacks.
WATCH:
The Obama-era State Department spokesman specifically highlighted British submarines, capable of firing tomahawk missiles like those used in the 2017 strikes, and France’s Rafale jet fighters armed with Storm Shadow missiles.
As for the US forces, Kirby predicted the use of B-1 bombers and F-15 Strike Eagle fighters, both capable of firing joint air-to-surface standoff missiles.