The U.S., supported by France and the U.K., launched airstrikes reportedly on several Syrian chemical weapons facilities on April 14. The assault comes as a response to the alleged chemical attack on Syrian civilians living in the town of Douma by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Pentagon declared a total of 76 missiles being launched from American, French and British warplanes and ships targeting three locations in western Syria, close to the capital Damascus: a Syrian research and development center, a chemical weapons bunker and a storage facility. The missiles hit their targets at 4 a.m. The calculated attack enjoyed the backing of U.S. allies, such as France and the United Kingdom.

Following the barrage, President Trump called the strike “perfectly executed” and a “mission accomplished” on Twitter. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White additionally stated that the attack had crippled Assad’s ability to produce chemical weapons. The Syrian military, however, contrary to Pentagon reports, claimed most of the American missiles either missed their targets or were shot down by Syrian missile defense systems.

The use of chemical weapons with military retaliation is not uncommon. In April 2017, Assad similarly deployed Sarin gas chemical weapons against his own civilians. In response, President Trump ordered an airstrike against a Syrian airbase.

When news first broke of Assad’s apparent second chemical attack involving a combination of chlorine gas and nerve agents, President Trump revealed his plans for retribution when he tweeted that he would be sending “nice and new and smart” missiles, despite Russia’s vows to shoot any missiles aiming at their ally down.

Although Trump praised the offensive, many opposed it. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. for acting before an official investigation had been launched to verify if chemical weapons had actually been used. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, called the attack a “crime.”

In the United States, several anti-war protests were held across the country. Act Now to Stop War and Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.), an organization dedicated to supporting global peace and civil rights, staged a protest the day of the strike to address American militarism and warfare around the world.

Mazda Magidi, an A.N.S.W.E.R. activist, believes that because of the U.S.’s massive military and nuclear weapons arsenal, the U.S. has little authority to command countries such as Syria to abandon their own weapons programs.

“Even though the U.S. says they care about human rights and democracy around the world, there has to be an explanation to why the U.S. has 600 military bases in 180 some countries and outspends every country in terms of the military,” Magidi said. “The question has to be asked, is this for defending democracy or for empire?”

Robert Hammie, another A.N.S.W.E.R. protester, thinks the U.S. is extending unwanted influence over too many countries in the world.

“The U.S. unfortunately, kind of like the British empire, casts its shadow all over the world, and people everywhere are being stomped on,” he said.

Assad addressed the strike saying that he would respond to the allies but offered no further details. Trump also stated that he would continue similar attacks if Assad continues his use of illegal chemical weapons.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on May 7, 2018.