Syrian relief group says base targeted by airstrike has resumed operations

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that Syria's al-Shayrat air base has resumed operations just hours after it was targeted by a U.S. airstrike.

President Trump ordered 59 Tomahawk missiles be launched at the airfield Thursday night in retaliation for the chemical attack that killed dozens in Idlib province Tuesday. While the Pentagon said earlier Friday that the strike had "severely damaged or destroyed Syrian aircraft and support infrastructure," it was reported Syria may have anticipated the attack and moved key equipment.

Russia's spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, claimed that the strike was “highly ineffective" and that only 23 of the 59 missiles reached their targets. "The combat effectiveness of the U.S. massive missile strike on Syria's airbase was thus very low," Konashenkov said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up