Saudi Arabia fully supports US-led strikes on Syria

The kingdom said the strikes were prompted by the "Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians

Missiles streak across the Damascus skyline as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital, early Saturday, April 14, . Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

A British Royal Air Force Tornado landing at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, after conducting strikes in support of Operations over the Middle East.The MoD report that four RAF Tornado's took off on 14 April 2018 from RAF Akrotiri to conduct precision strikes on Syrian installations involved in the use of chemical weapons. AP Photo

A British Royal Air Force Tornado pilot checking the weapons on his Tornado aircfraft at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. AP Photo

French Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian makes an official statement in the press room at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. The French military on Saturday targeted Syria's main chemicals research centre as well as two other facilities, hours after President Emmanuel Macron ordered a military intervention in Syria. Reuters

A missile is seen crossing over Damascus, Syria. Reuters

Syrians wave the national flag as they gather at the Umayyad Square in Damascus, to condemn the strikes carried out by the US, Britain and France against the Syrian regime. Louai Beshara / AFP

The Damascus sky lights up with missile fire as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

Damascus skies erupt with missile fire as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

A plane preparing to take off as part of the joint airstrike operation by the British, French and US military in Syria, is seen in this picture obtained on April 14, 2018 via social media. Reuters

Syrian people protest against US-led air strikes in a street in Damascus. Omar Sanadiki / Reuters

US President Donald Trump addresses the nation on the situation in Syria, at the White House in Washington, DC. Trump said strikes on Syria are under way. Mandel Ngan / AFP

US Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., briefing reporters on the current US air strikes on Syria during a joint press conference at the Pentagon in Washington. Sgt. Amber Smith / EPA

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Saudi Arabia welcomed the US-led strikes on Syrian chemical weapons sites on Saturday, while other countries called for a long-term political solution to the country's war.

“Saudi Arabia fully supports the strikes launched by the United States, France and Britain against Syria because they represent a response to the regime's crimes," said the foreign ministry in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

It said the strikes were prompted by the "Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians, including women and children".

Bahrain said it fully supported the actions of its western allies following the "brutal" chemical attack that "claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people, including women and children".

“This military operation was necessary to protect civilians on all Syrian territory and to prevent the use of any prohibited weapons that would increase the frequency of violence and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Bahrain News Agency.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have been key backers of Syrian opposition groups fighting President Bashar Al Assad.

The United States, France and Britain said they launched the strikes on Saturday in response to a chemical attack on the former rebel town of Douma near Damascus on April 7 by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris had "proof" the Syrian regime used chemical weapons, a claim denied by the Damascus government.

However, the Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said he felt regret and alarm over the missile strikes.

Speaking in the Saudi city of Dammam, where the 29th Arab League summit is being held on Sunday, Mr Aboul Gheit said that all parties involved in the crisis, primarily the Syrian government, were responsible for the deterioration of the situation.

The use of chemical weapons against civilians "shouldn't be accepted or tolerated" but the issue required a sustainable political solution for the Syrian crisis, he said.

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Jordan, a close US ally, did not refer directly to the missile strikes but said only a political solution would guarantee the stability of Syria.

“Continued violence will only lead to more violence, conflict, fighting and displacement whose victim is the Syrian people,” government spokesman Mohammad Al Momani said on Saturday in a statement carried by the state news agency Petra.

Iraq said the air strikes marked "a very dangerous development" and called for the Syria situation to be discussed at the Arab League summit on Sunday

"Such action could have dangerous consequences, threatening the security and stability of the region and giving terrorism another opportunity to expand after it was ousted from Iraq and forced into Syria to retreat to a large extent," the foreign ministry said.

Iraq's position is in line with those of Russia and Iran, the main backers of Mr Al Assad in the civil war which has raged in his country since 2011.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi last month said he wants "to keep away" from the conflict between the US and Iran.