![Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile [Image credit – united States Navy, Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/4/12/660x290/b_502x220x82/tomahawk-block-iv-cruise-missile-image-credit-united-states-navy-wikimedia-commons_1933805.jpg "Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile [Image credit – united States Navy, Wikimedia Commons]")
Kuwait Airways was the first to react to a message that indicated possibilities of airstrikes and missile attacks on Syria. The airline has suspended its services to Beirut as a safety measure. The message from European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that Syria could be the target of airstrikes by air-to-ground and/or cruise missiles. This could lead to intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment. Hence, airlines must observe necessary precautions
Sky News reports that these aerial attacks were to be treated as actions proposed to be taken by Western allies in retaliation to the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed at least 70 people.
Coordinated response of the West
The suspected chemical weapon attack has been reported from the rebel-held town of Douma in Syria. The United States, Britain, and France will be joining forces and will coordinate their response to take care of this threat, which could resort to airstrikes in the region. The tension peaked when an official in the Russian embassy in Beirut told members of the media that if America sends its missiles into Syria, they will be shot down. His remarks could result in a confrontation between the superpowers, which will not be desirable.
Prime Minister Theresa May held separate phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump. They have arrived at a consensus that the international community must stand together to condemn the use of chemical weapons, which is prohibited by international law.
However, lawmakers in Britain want to have a vote in Parliament before participating in any military operations in Syria.
French President Emmanuel Macron feels that the chemical facilities of the Syrian government must be the target of any military operation instead of the Assad regime and its allies. In his opinion, the joint response must be strong enough to make an impact.
Chemical weapons in Syria
Both the government of Syria and Russia have denied their involvement in the latest chemical weapon attack reported from the rebel-held town of Douma in Syria. Therefore, it is necessary for the UN to investigate the incident. Last year, there was a similar attack in northern Syria in which dozens of people lost their lives.
At that time, the United States retaliated by carrying out airstrikes on a Syrian airbase that was thought to be the source of the bombs used.
Fox News added that the link between Syria and chemical weapons goes back to the beginning of the civil unrest in the country that has been raging for the past seven years. The UN has blamed the Syrian government for four of the attacks, and ISIS for the fifth. Hundreds of innocent people, including women and children have been killed in the process.
