Developments in Syria are dramatic, as US, French and British military operations have been launched against specific targets of Bashar al-Assad's forces.
The start of the operations was announced at 4:00 am (Greek / Cyprus time) by US President Donald Trump in a speech to the nation.
The attacks are retaliation for the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad against its own people. "These are not the actions of a human being," Trump said. "It's a monster crime."
"We have sent a clear message to Assad," said Secretary of Defense Mattis.
He noted that the attacks targeted the Syrian government. The United States and its allies have hit Syria harder than they did last year, he said.
It is time to "unite" to end the civil war in Syria, he added.
No other attacks have been planned in Syria, he added.
In Damascus, eyewitnesses say several loud explosions were heard. Smoke is rising on the east side of the Syrian capital. According to Syrian state television, the air defense was activated to deal with the attack.
Syrian air defense forces shot down 13 missiles fired by US, French and British forces today, Syrian state television reported.
He said the rockets were fired at an area south of Damascus.
In the operation of the warships and aircraft of the three countries, Trump said in his speech to the White House that these are precision strikes. "We are ready to continue this response until the Syrian government stops using banned chemical weapons."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a scientific research center and military base in Damascus had been hit by an attack by US, French and British forces.
Addressing Russia and Iran, Trump asked: "What kind of nation would want to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men?
The Syrian army is on high alert and has left military bases since last Tuesday to reduce the possibility of a possible attack by the United States and its allies in France and Britain.
"I have authorized the British Armed Forces to carry out coordinated and targeted attacks to undermine the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capabilities," said Prime Minister Theresa May.
The British Ministry of Defense announced that British forces hit a "military complex" near Homs in western Syria in retaliation for the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
"The British contribution to the coordinated action was made by four Tornado GR4 fighter jets of the Royal Air Force," the ministry said in a statement.
"They fired Storm Shadow missiles at a military base 24 kilometers west of Homs.
The United States, France and the United Kingdom have completed their raids on Syria's chemical weapons program, said General Joseph Dunford, chief of the US General Staff.
The general, who spoke at the Pentagon with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, said no further action was planned at the moment, stressing that the Allies had avoided striking Russian forces, which have a large presence in the country, but that Moscow had not been warned in advance about the operation.
The actions that took place tonight in Syria will have consequences and all the responsibility belongs to the USA, the United Kingdom and France, said in a statement the ambassador of Russia in Washington, Anatoly Antonov.
"The worst fears have come true. Our warnings were not heeded. A pre-designed scenario applies. Again, we are threatened. "We have warned that such actions will not go unnoticed," Antonov said.
"All the responsibility for them lies with Washington, London and Paris," he added.