The United States fired cruise missiles on Friday (April 7) at a Syrian airbase from which it said a deadly chemical weapons attack had been launched this week, the first direct U.S. assault on the government of Bashar al-Assad in six years of civil war. The Syrian government strongly denies responsibility for the chemical attack.
Syrian state television broadcast coverage from the targeted area, showing military bunkers and emergency services vehicles at the scene.
The Syrian army said the U.S. attack killed six people at its air base near the city of Homs. It called the attack "blatant aggression" and said it made the United States a "partner" of "terrorist groups" including Islamic State. Homs Governor Talal Barazi told Reuters the death toll was seven.
