US strikes show resolve against barbarism: EU's Tusk

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

BRUSSELS

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.

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.

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.

'Assad brought on US strikes'

Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad bears "full responsibility" for the U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian military airbase early Friday, according to French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"A military installation of the Syrian regime used for bombing was destroyed last night by American strikes [...] Assad bears full responsibility for this development," the two leaders said in a joint statement, adding that Washington had informed them in advance of the strikes.

“His continued use of chemical weapons and mass crimes cannot go unpunished. This is what France had asked for in the summer of 2013 the day after the chemical attack the Ghouta," the statement added, referring to a deadly August 2013 regime attack in Ghouta, eastern Damascus, which killed more than 1,400 civilians, according to local and international human rights groups.

UK gives 'full support' to US missile strikes in Syria

Britain has also given its full support to the U.S. missile strikes. In a statement released Friday, the government said the attack was an “appropriate gesture” to the Bashar al-Assad regime’s “barbaric" chemical attack.

The U.K. government also offered its full support to U.S. President Donald Trump's targeted assault on the Syrian base, from where he said a nerve agent strike on civilians was launched.

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Friday morning the U.K. had been in "close contact" with the U.S. over the last few days and the government had been "informed throughout".

"We fully support this strike, we've been in close contact with the American government over the last couple of days in preparation for this,” Fallon said.

"The Americans believe they've exhausted all possible diplomatic and peaceful ways of dealing with the use by the regime of chemical weapons and they have been determined to try to prevent future attacks like this so they've taken this action today," he added.

Support for US strikes in Syria grows in Europe

The Netherlands and Italy have joined the chorus of support coming out of Europe for recent U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian military base.

In a statement released Friday, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said: "I understand the action of the United States. This is an open and clear warning to the Syrian regime.

“[Syrian regime’s Bashar] Assad himself needs to know that there is no escape from using chemical weapons."

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano in a statement on Friday said: "Italy understands the reason for the U.S. military action, which was proportionate in timing and methods, as a response to an unacceptable sense of impunity, as well as a signal of deterrent towards the risk of further use of chemical weapons by Assad, in addition to those ascertained by the UN."

Speaking to the press, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said: "U.S. action last night was a response to a war crime for which Assad regime is responsible."

The U.S. strikes came in retaliation for a chemical attack Tuesday in northwestern Syria that killed more than 100 civilians and injured around 500 others.

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.