As it happened: US, UK and France strike Syria

By Veronica Rocha, James Griffiths, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Amanda Wills and Brian Ries, CNN

Updated 9:56 AM ET, Mon April 16, 2018
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9:52 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

US officials: "What you’ve seen tonight is not the end of the US response"

From CNN's Pam Brown and Jim Sciutto

Two US officials said attacks could continue beyond tonight, with a senior administration official saying “this isn't over."

"What you’ve seen tonight is not the end of the US response," the senior administration official said. "They have built a lot of flexibility into the plan to allow for further strikes based on what they’ve hit tonight."

A US official said a big concern is how much more sophisticated Russia’s capabilities are now compared to last year. The source says they are "significantly enhanced" in terms of anti-strike and anti-aircraft capabilities.

Part of the calculation this week has also been gaming out how Russia will respond either in the region or around the world.

“We are watching what Russians do in the next 24 hours,” the official said.

There will be intelligence collection to see what Russians are up to in the wake of the strikes, such as turning on their systems or talking about retaliating.

9:50 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

Witnesses report explosions in Damascus

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports that witnesses say they are hearing explosions in Damascus, Syria, and that they began while President Trump was still addressing the nation.

9:41 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

VP Pence called congressional leaders minutes before the announcement

From CNN's Manu Raju

Vice President Pence called Congressional leaders minutes before the Trump announcement about Syria strikes, according to two sources.

Pence was in Lima, Peru.

9:35 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

State media says Syria is responding to strikes

From CNN's Robe Alhenawi

Syrian State TV is reporting that Syrian Air Defense was responding to "the American, British and French aggression against Syria."

9:25 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

US Defense officials: Both US ships and aircrafts were used in the strikes

From Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne

Multiple US defense officials tell CNN that both US ships and aircrafts were used in the strikes in Syria.

9:23 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

UK's Theresa May authorizes strikes on Syria

From CNN's Sebastian Shukla

UK Prime Minister Theresa May, in a statement, said that she has “authorised British armed forces to conduct co-ordinated and targeted strikes to degrade the Syrian Regime’s chemical weapons capability and deter their use.”

 Moments ago, President Trump said the UK and France were involved in the strike.

"A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now under way. We thank them both," Trump said.

9:19 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

UK and France also involved in strikes

President Trump, addressing the nation tonight, spoke of an allied effort against the "barbarism and brutality."

He said the UK and France are also involved in the "combined operation."

"Today the nations of Britain, France, and the United States of America have marshaled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality," he said. "Tonight I ask all Americans to say a prayer for our noble warriors and our allies as they carry out their missions."

He continued: "We pray that God will bring comfort to those suffering in Syria. We pray that God will guide the whole region toward a future of dignity and of peace. And we pray that God will continue to watch over and bless the United States of America. Thank you and good night."

9:14 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

Trump calls out Russia and Iran for backing Assad regime

President Trump directly addressed Russia and Iran, two countries that have supported the embattled regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

"What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women, and children?"

"The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators," Trump said.

"Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace. Hopefully someday we'll get along with Russia and maybe even Iran, but maybe not," Trump said.

9:09 p.m. ET, April 13, 2018

Trump calls suspected Syria gas attack the "crimes of a monster"

President Trump described the "despicable attack" in Syria as the "crimes of a monster" as he announced the start of precision retaliatory strikes.

"This massacre was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use by that very terrible regime," Trump said.

"The evil and the despicable attack left mothers and fathers, infants and children thrashing in pain and gasping for air. These are not the actions of a man. They are crimes of a monster instead."