The Defense Department said Friday night that U.S., British and French forces struck three Syrian facilities that officials believe play a key role in Syria's ability to research, produce and store chemical weapons.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called it a "heavy strike" that was broader than the attack President Trump ordered one year ago that targeted an airfield. Friday night's strike aimed at the "long-term degradation" of Syria's chemical weapons capabilities.
“We used a little over double the number of weapons this year than we used last year," Mattis told reporters gathered for a late evening briefing at the Pentagon. "Right now this is a one-time shot."
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The allied strike, with included manned U.S. aircraft, last about an hour and prompted the Syrian regime to retaliate by shooting surface-to-air missiles, said Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.