EUCOM: U.S. European Command Supports Joint Strikes on Syria Chemical Weapons Sites

Apr 16, 2018

EUCOM Release: 18-08

STUTTGART, Germany - Multiple air and maritime assets assigned to U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Europe, under U.S. European Command (EUCOM), participated in strike operations conducted in Syria. The strike operations were part of U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) operations to deter and prevent Syria's future use of chemical weapons. Alongside French and United Kingdom partners, EUCOM personnel expertly carried out operations as part of the United States' goal of long-term degradation of Syria's chemical weapons capabilities.

EUCOM Commander Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said that the three nations' forces were integrated throughout the planning and execution of the operation.

"The strikes were the result of a carefully orchestrated plan which involved dedicated teamwork between EUCOM and CENTCOM, and their service assets, as well as our British and French partners," said Scaparrotti. "Great care was taken to assure all targets were part of the regime's chemical weapons program."

The combined force deployed 105 total weapons against three targets that will significantly impact the Syrian regime's ability to develop, deploy and use chemical weapons in the future.   The following is a breakdown of the military weapons used to strike Syrian chemical weapons targets:

From the Red Sea:

USS Monterey (Ticonderoga-class cruiser) - 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles

USS Laboon (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer) - 7 Tomahawk land attack missiles


From the North Arabian Gulf:

USS Higgins (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer) - 23 Tomahawk land attack missiles


From the eastern Mediterranean:

USS John Warner (Virginia-class submarine) - 6 Tomahawk land attack missiles

French Frigate Languedoc (Anti-submarine Warfare) - 3 missiles (naval version of SCALP missile)


From the air:

2 U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers - 19 Joint air-to-surface standoff missiles

Royal Air Force flew a combination of Tornado and Typhoon jets - 8 Storm shadow missiles

French Air Force flew a combination of Rafales and Mirages - 9 SCALP missiles

None of the combined aircraft or missiles involved in this mission were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses and there is no indication Russian air defense systems were deployed.  

EUCOM's ability to quickly respond and reassure allies and partners is a testament to the routine training that EUCOM personnel are focused on throughout the year, reinforcing the skills and expertise necessary to respond to any contingency. EUCOM maintains its commitment to continuous rotation presence of air, land and sea forces to provide core rapid response capabilities, and deter aggressive acts, such as the Syrian regime's chemical weapons attack against innocent civilians last week. 

For more information about U.S. European Command visit
http://www.eucom.mil/.

For more information about U.S. Central Command visit
http://www.centcom.mil/.

More information regarding this operation is available at
https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/Syria/

--30--