News / Syria

Syrians rally in Damascus in support of Assad against US-led strikes

Monday, 16 April 2018 2:29 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 April 2018 2:44 PM ]

Syrians gather at the Umayyad Square in the capital Damascus to show their support for President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian military in the wake of the US-led airstrikes on Syrian government targets, April 16, 2018. (Photo by SANA)

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have poured into the streets in the capital Damascus in support of their government after the United States and its allies fired more than 100 missiles at Syria.

Honking car horns and waving Syrian flags, the crowd shouted slogans in support of Assad, celebrating what they saw as a triumph in resistance to the US-led airstrikes.

The US, UK and France launched airstrikes against multiple government targets in Syria early on Saturday morning, targeting alleged chemical weapons sites.

A total of 103 cruise missiles were launched during the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that at least 71 of them were intercepted by Syrian air defense forces.

The airstrikes were carried out in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma last week.

Several Western powers, led by the United States, claimed chemical substances, most likely chlorine and sarin, were used by Syrian government forces on April 7.

The claim was denied by Damascus and Moscow.

The photos below, released by Syria's officials news agency, SANA, show Syrians at the Umayyad Square in Damascus demonstrating their support for President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian military in the wake of the US-led airstrikes on Syrian government targets on Monday.