Iran and Russia condemn assault but supporting comes from allies including Canada and Israel
The decision by the US president, Donald Trump, to launch air strikes on Syria with backing from the UK and France has proved globally divisive, with some countries praising the military action while others condemned it as provocative and unacceptable.
Among the strongest critics of the airstrikes were Russia and Iran, staunch friends of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, who both have a military presence on the ground in Syria.
Russia
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, denounced the strikes as an” act of aggressivenes” that would exacerbate humanitarian catastrophe in Syria.
In a statement issued by the Kremlin, the Russian leader told Moscow was calling situations of emergency session of the United Nation security council over the strikes launched by the US, Britain and France.
Putin added that the attack had a” destructive influence on the entire system of international relations “.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “ve called the” US-led strikes on Syria a” military crime “. According to state news organization IRNA, Khamenei spoke at a meeting with Iranian officials and diplomats from some Islamic countries.
” The assault this morning against Syria is a crime ,” Khamenei added later on his Telegram channel.” The American president, the French president and the British prime minister are felons, they will gain nothing from it .”
Germany
Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the allied strikes in Syria were a “necessary and appropriate” response to what the US and its friends say was a recent chemical assault in the Syrian city of Douma.
Merkel said Berlin viewed the US, UK and France had taken” responsibility in this way as permanent members of the UN security council … to maintain the efficiency of the international rejection of chemical weapons use and to warn the Syrian regime against farther violations “.
China
In a response to questions about the strikes, China's foreign ministry called any military action that bypasses the UN security council a violation of international law.
” We consistently resist the use of force in international relations, and proponent respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries ,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.
” China believes that a political solution is the only realistic way out for the Syrian issue ,” she added.” China exhorts all the relevant parties to return to the framework of international law and to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation .”
European Union
The European committee chairwoman, Jean-Claude Juncker, said those who will vary depending on chemical war must be held to account by the world.
Juncker said the suspected employ of poison gas last week in the Syrian city of Douma was as he sets it a” heinous chemical weapons assault carried out by the Syrian regime “. He said the world” has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible” for the attack.
Canada
The Canadian “ministers “, Justin Trudeau, who this week ruled out his country's participation in military action in Syria, announced his unequivocal is supportive of the targeted bombings.
” Canada supports the decision by the United States, the United Kingdom and France to take action to degrade the Assad regime's ability to launch chemical weapons assaults against its own people ,” he told. Trudeau added that Canada would continue to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria and that those responsible for the recent attacks” is necessary brought to justice “.
Israel
Israel, which was recently accused by Iran of carrying out its own airstrikes on military bases in Syria, was among the first to praise the strikes.
” Last year, President Trump made clear that the use of chemical weapons traverses a red line. Tonight, under American leadership, the United States, France and the United Kingdom enforced that line .”
Nato
The Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the actions by the US, France and UK coalition should be supported because they would” reduce the government's ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons “.
” Nato has consistently condemned Syria's continued use of chemical weapons as a clear breach of international norms and agreements ,” he said.” The utilize of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable .”
Turkey
Turkey's foreign ministry said it greeted the ten-strikes as an” appropriate reaction “.
Ankara told chemical weapons attacks that indiscriminately target civilians” constitute crimes against humanity” and should not go unpunished.
United Nations
UN secretary- general, Antonio Guterres, used to say while use of chemical weapons was ” abhorrent” and “horrendous”, he advised caution in retaliating, conveying concern that any escalation of the violence was able to increase the suffering of those living in Syria.
” I advise all member states to show restraint in these dangerous circumstances and to avoid any acts that could escalate the situation and worsen the agony of the Syrian people ,” Guterres said in a statement.
Iraq
The ten-strikes carried out by the US, France and Britain against Syrian military targets could give terrorism an opportunity to expand of the states of the region, the Iraqi foreign ministry said, calling the raids” a very dangerous development “.
” Such action could have dangerous repercussions, threatening the security and stability of the region and dedicating terrorism another opportunity to expand after it was deposed from Iraq and forced into Syria to retreat to a large extent ,” it said.
