<br /> <p>The US, France, and Britain launched coordinated strikes against areas of Syria under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the early hours of Saturday, April 14.</p><p>Videos posted on Facebook Live shortly after the announcement from President Donald Trump shows smoke rising over Damascus as residents reported hearing aircraft and explosions. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said</a> the strikes aimed to "to destroy the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons research development and production capabilities.”</p><p>The strikes are in response to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons</a> against the rebel-held enclave of Douma in East Ghouta on April 7.</p><p>This video taken from Babila in south Damascus shows smoke rising above the city. Credit: Abdo Zitoun via Storyful</p><br />
