The U.S. collaborated with the U.K. and France to launch a series of missiles to zero in on facilities linked to Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons, The Drive reported Saturday.Dana White, a spokesperson for the Defense Department, said in a briefing the operation does not aim to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime or take part in the country’s civil war and the move “does not represent a change in US policy.â€
A total of 105 standoff missiles were launched and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, said those weapons all hit their targets.
The U.S. military launched 76 missiles to home in on the Barzah Research Center in Damascus and those include 19 Lockheed Martin-built Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range air-launched missiles and 57 Raytheon-made Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.
The U.S. Air Force deployed its B-1B bombers and fighter jets to fire the missiles, while the U.S. Navy used its USS Higgins and Laboon Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Monterey Ticonderoga-class cruiser and USS John Warner Virginia-class submarine to launch missiles and engage targets.
The U.K. government fielded its Tornado GR4 combat aircraft and France deployed its Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter jets to launch the cruise missiles in support of the operation.
