Sputnik - On Thursday night, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha�irat, located about 40 kilometers from the city of Homs.


US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to�the alleged use of�chemical weapons in�Syria's Idlib on�Tuesday, which Washington and its allies blame on�the Syrian government.


"Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on�the air field in�Syria from�where the chemical attack was launched. It is in�this vital national security of�the United States to�prevent and deter the spread and use of�deadly chemical weapons," the president told reporters.

The missile strike resulted in�casualties among�Syrian servicemen and damages to�the facility and military equipment.

The move was welcomed by�a number of�countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Turkey, while Russia described the attack as�an "act of�aggression against�a sovereign state" and said the missile strike played in�the hands of�terrorists.

According to�Koray Gurbuz, a military expert at�the Ankara-based Bilkent University, the US missile strike in�Syria is a violation of�international norms and indicates that instead of�negotiating with�Syria�s legitimate government, Washington acts by�force in�favor of�terrorists.
"If we want to�explain why the US delivered a missile strike on�the Syrian airbase we need to�take a look back at�what was happening around�Iraq 15 years ago. In order to�invade Iraq, the US provided false information and fake images that the Iraqi government allegedly used chemical weapons against�their citizens," Gurbuz said in�an interview with Sputnik Turkey.


On Tuesday, the Syrian National Coalition of�Revolution and Opposition Forces (SNC) reported that some 80 people were killed and 200 others injured in�a chemical weapons attack in�Idlib. The opposition group blamed the Syrian Army for�the attack.


Later, the Syrian Army command rejected the allegations, saying the responsibility for�the attack lies with�militants and their sponsors.

The Organization for�the Prohibition of�Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said that its Fact Finding Mission has begun the process of�gathering and analyzing information from�all available sources.
"There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under�the Chemical Weapons Convention and ignored the urging of�the UN Security Council. Years of�previous attempts at�changing Assad's behavior have all failed and failed very dramatically," President Trump said.


Gurbuz suggested that Washington�s goal in�Syria is to�repeat the Iraqi scenario.

"The US invaded Iraq. Today, the country is plunged in�chaos, panic and uncertainty. Iraq is de-facto torn into�pieces. The Iraqi government is controlled by�Washington," the expert said.

According to�him, the preparation for�the "Iraqi scenario" for�Syria has been underway for�a while.

"Media has published photos and images about�chemical weapons in�Syria. A number of�statements have been made that the US was very concerned. There have been calls for�Washington�s active involvement in�the situation. Of course, there is no coincidence," Gurbuz pointed out.

He further elaborated on�the possible scenario of�Washington's next steps in�Syria.
"The US is nurturing a plan of�a full-scale intervention of�Syria. Instead of�establishing contacts with�the legitimate Syrian government, Washington prefers violating international law and acting by�force in�favor of�terrorist groups," he said.


Gurbuz also said that the ultimate goal of�Washington�s policy in�Syria is to�establish a "puppet government," in�order to�pressure and control other sovereign states in�the region.
"Their attempts to�help establish a Kurdish entity on�Iraqi and Syrian territories are also part of�this plan. Thus, the missile strike in�Syria is another step towards�this goal," he concluded.