“We Successfully Hit Every Target”: Highlights From Pentagon Press Briefing On Syria Airstrikes

On Saturday morning, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White and Marine Lt. General Kenneth McKenzie held a press conference updating the public on the key overnight developments in Syria.

Here are the highlights from the presser:

• White: “This operation does not represent a change in US policy or an attempt to dispose the Syrian regime.”
• White: “We took action and what happens next is the decision of Assad.”
• McKenzie: “We successfully hit every target”
• McKenzie: “Last night’s strikes were precise, overwhelming, and effective. The strikes overwhelemed the Syrian air defense system”

Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.: “I’d use three words to describe this operation: precise, overwhelming and effective.” pic.twitter.com/g9Eti66f1k

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 14, 2018

• McKenzie: “A total of 105 weapons were deployed against three targets. Targets hit were chlorine, sarin gas research facilities”

Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.: “In a powerful show of allied unity, we deployed 105 weapons against three targets.” pic.twitter.com/QldXxBW0bN

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 14, 2018

• McKenzie:”Three building were destroyed in Damascus”
• McKenzie: “No coordination, no agreement with the Russians before the strike.”
• McKenzie: “There was no indication Russia air defense systems were deployed”
• McKenzie: “None of our aircraft or missiles involved in this operation were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses and we have no indication that Russian air defense systems were deployed … all our aircraft safely returned to their bases”

Lt. Gen. McKenzie: “None of our aircraft or missiles involved in this operation were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses and we have no indication that Russian air defense systems were deployed … all our aircraft safely returned to their bases” https://t.co/iOaONV0wMf pic.twitter.com/oaivm7nZNr

— CNN (@CNN) April 14, 2018

• McKenzie: “Air and naval platforms were used to launch strikes”
• McKenzie: “We accomplished our military objective without material interference from Syria”

“We accomplished our military objective without material interference from Syria” General McKenzie said #tictocnews pic.twitter.com/djfBTj2cw6

— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) April 14, 2018

• McKenzie: “77 missiles destroyed the Barzah Research and Development Center. It does not exist anymore. This will set the Syrian CW program by years.”
• McKenzie: “22 missiles hit the Him Shinshar Chemical Weapons Storage Site. All coalition forces were involved in kinetic strikes”
• McKenzie: “7 missiles were employed against a third target”

NEW: Joint Staff Dir. McKenzie says there were 3 targets in combined military strikes in Syria: https://t.co/sjptbwmguh
– 76 missiles employed against first target.
– 22 missiles employed against second target.
– 7 missiles employed against third target. pic.twitter.com/j8u9wDtvwE

— ABC News (@ABC) April 14, 2018

• McKenzie: “Two USAF B-1 lancer bombers launched 19 missiles.”
• McKenzie: “Syria fired 40 surface to air missiles into the air after strike on ballistic (unguided trajectory) to no effect….after the 105 US and allied missiles had already landed.”
• McKenzie: “We have not seen any military response from actors within Syria since the strikes”
• McKenzie: “We positioned defensive counter-air assets around Syria and these are still active.”
• McKenzie: “As of now, we are not aware of any civilian casualties following the strikes”

Director of the Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie: “As of now, we are not aware of any civilian casualties” following the strikes in Syria https://t.co/evji1T4bCw pic.twitter.com/GnKk5y5mol

— CNN (@CNN) April 14, 2018

Also of note: McKenzie confirms JASSM stealthy cruise missiles used in this morning’s strike in Syria. It’s the first known time they’ve been used in combat.

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Feed below:

.@ChiefPenSpox Dana W. White and Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., director, Joint Staff, provide an update … https://t.co/qi7UZieaJM

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) April 14, 2018