By Cansu Dikme
BRUSSELS (AA) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Saturday backed the joint airstrikes carried out by the U.S., U.K. and France in Syria.
“I support the actions taken by the United States, the United Kingdom and France against the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities and capabilities,” Stoltenberg said in a statement.
“This will reduce the regime’s ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons,” he added.
Recalling the consistent NATO condemnation of Syria's continued use of chemical weapons, the alliance chief said the alleged use of such weapons had been a clear breach of international norms and agreements.
“The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Stoltenberg said.
“NATO considers the use of chemical weapons as a threat to international peace and security, and believes that it is essential to protect the Chemical Weapons Convention.
“This calls for a collective and effective response by the international community.”
On Friday night, the U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S., U.K. and France jointly launched strikes targeting the Assad regime's chemical weapons capabilities after a suspected chemical attack killed dozens outside of Damascus.
The White Helmets, a civil defense agency, blamed the Assad regime for the alleged chemical attack, which it said killed 78 civilians and injured hundreds of others.
