- Title: Iraqis criticise U.S. strikes in Syria
- Date: 7th April 2017
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC SCENE AROUND BAGHDAD'S CENTRAL TAHRIR SQUARE PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAGHDAD RESIDENT, DHIYA HUSSEIN, SAYING: "Syria is fighting terrorism and Iraq is fighting terrorism and the strikes were meant to weaken the two countries. Iraq and Syria are the only countries that are fighting terrorism and I think the strikes will have an impact on Iraq." TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAGHDAD RESIDENT, QASSIM (SECOND NAME UNKNOWN), SAYING: "American strikes on Syrian sites now indicate a shift in the policy of President (Donald) Trump on Syria. They (U.S. administration) accuse the Syrian government and Bashar al-Assad of the chemical attack that killed innocent people and use it as an excuse to change the (Syrian) regime." TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAGHDAD RESIDENT, RAID MOHAMMED, SAYING: "Strikes against Syrian installations will have a negative impact on Syria. They (Americans) are supposed to support Syria and Iraq... as Iraq and Syria are fighting terrorism on behalf of the world to wipe out terrorism." TRAFFIC
- Embargoed: 21st April 2017 10:00
- Keywords: U.S. air strike Syria army air base Baghdad Iraq reaction
- Location: BAGHDAD., IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD., IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BEHGLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqis on Friday (April 7) criticised a U.S. air strike on a Syrian army air base, saying the move would have a "negative impact" in the fight against Islamic State.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the strikes a day after he blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for this week's chemical attack, which killed at least 70 people, many of them children, in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the attack.
Iraqis said Trump used the chemical attack as an excuse to target the Syrian regime, adding that the U.S. president was supposed to further enhance support for Syria and Iraq in their fight against Islamic State.
In a sharp escalation of the U.S. military role in Syria, two U.S. warships fired dozens of cruise missiles from the eastern Mediterranean Sea at the air base controlled by Assad's forces, U.S. officials said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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