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10 world leaders who supported U.S. missile strike on Syria

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President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to launch missiles that hammered Syrian forces early Friday led leaders from nations around the world to quickly speak up in support.

The attack — specifically 59 missiles hitting an airbase used by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime — was in response to the use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held area of the country, an attack that killed dozens of citizens, including many children.

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The U.S. military action had critics. Russia and Iran — both Syrian government allies — were outraged by the strike. China had a different tack — condemning the use of chemical weapons without applauding the U.S.

But most nations applauded the U.S. move.

Here’s a look at the messages of support that were sent to the U.S.

1. The United Kingdom

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said the government supported Trump’s decision.

“The UK government fully supports the U.S. action which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime and is intended to deter further attacks,” the spokesman said.

2. Turkey

Turkey — which shares a border with Syria — said it welcomed the U.S. operation and called it a positive response to war crimes.

“This regime must be removed from leading Syria as soon as possible and the best way to do that is by starting the transitional process,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

3. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s U.S. embassy shared a statement saying the government “praised this courageous decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to respond to the ‎regime’s crimes against its people in light of the failure of the international community to stop the ‎regime from brutalizing its people.‎”

4. Italy

“Italy understands the reasons for the U.S. military action,” Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said on Twitter, according to a translation by Reuters, which also reported Alfano calling it “a signal of deterrence against the risks of further use of chemical weapons by Assad.”

5. France and Germany

French President François Hollande said on Twitter that the country and its partners are ready to work toward political transition in Syria, according to a translation by Bing.

He also released a joint statement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying “Assad bears full responsibility for this development.”

6. Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the government in Japan supports “the resolve of the U.S. government of never tolerating the proliferation and use of chemical weapons.”

7. The European Union

Donald Tusk, president of the European Union — which includes more than two dozen countries — said the EU will work with the U.S. to end brutality in Syria going forward.

In a statement on behalf of the EU, he said the strike was “understandable.” However, he added that the alliance sees no military solution to the conflict and that it prefers a political solution.

8. Poland

Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement calling the strike a “a proportionate and adequate response” to the use of chemical weapons.

“In the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a strong and clear signal that further proliferation and use of chemical weapons, including against defenseless civilians in Syria, will not be tolerated,” it said.

9. Australia

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the country “strongly supports the swift and just response of the United States.”

“This was a calibrated, proportionate and targeted response,” his official statement said. “It sends a strong message to the Assad regime, and as I said, has been struck at the very airfield from which the chemical attack was delivered. Australia was not involved in the strike but we remain fully committed as a coalition partner to our ongoing military operations in Iraq and Syria.”

10. Israel

The message of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Twitter was loud and clear.

“Israel hopes this resolve in face of the Assad regime’s horrific actions resonates not only in Damascus but in Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere,” he also tweeted.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin

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