Stanovnike Damaska probudio je u subotu prije zore niz eksplozija koje su odjekivale cijelim gradom, jako glasne čak i po ocjeni ljudi koji su navikli na zvuk teškog bombardiranja.
Deset sati nakon što su projektili pogodili mete, dim se i dalje uzdizao s ruševina istraživačkog centra u četvrti Barzeh za koji Zapad tvrdi da je bio dio tajnog sirijskog programa kemijskog oružja.
Sjedinjene Države, Britanija i Francuska napali su mete širom Sirije kao odgovor na kemijski napad prije tjedan dana, no sirijska vlada, koju podržava Rusija, niječe da je upotrijebila ili da posjeduje takvo oružje.
Silovit napad
Napad je Sirijski znanstveni istraživački centar gotovo sravnio sa zemljom.
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on April 15, 2018 with handout satellite images taken on April 11, 2018 (top) and on April 14, 2018 (bottom) and provided on April 15, 2018 by Distribution Airbus DS, shows the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus, before and after it was struck in raids by the United States, Britain and France. US, French and British missiles destroyed sites suspected of hosting chemical weapons development and storage facilities on April 14, but the buildings were mostly empty and the Western trio swiftly reverted to its diplomatic efforts. / AFP PHOTO / Cnes 2017, Distribution Airbus DS / Handout / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / CNES / Distribution Airbus DS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Višetjedna ofenziva
Centar nije daleko od istočne Ghoute, područja s naseljima i poljoprivrednim zemljištima koje je bilo najveće uporište pobunjenika koji se bore protiv sirijskog predsjednika Bashara al-Assada. Posljednja skupina predala se nekoliko sati nakon navodnog kemijskog napada koji je doveo do savezničkog zračnog napada, na kraju vladine ofenzive u regiji koja je trajala sedam tjedana.
Stojeći pored ruševina, Saeid Saeid, voditelj Odjela za polimere u tom centru, rekao je da su u tim zgradama provodili istraživanja i proizvodili sastojke za lijekove koje se ne može uvesti, uključujući za liječenje raka i protuotrove.
This handout satellite image taken on April 11, 2018 and provided on April 15, 2018 by Distribution Airbus DS, shows the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus, before the raids by the United States, Britain and France. US, French and British missiles destroyed sites suspected of hosting chemical weapons development and storage facilities on April 14, but the buildings were mostly empty and the Western trio swiftly reverted to its diplomatic efforts. / AFP PHOTO / Cnes 2017, Distribution Airbus DS / Handout / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / CNES / Distribution Airbus DS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Američki general marinaca Joseph Dunford, načelnik združenog stožera, rekao je u Washingtonu da je to bio centar za istraživanja, razvoj, proizvodnju i testiranje kemijskog i biološkog oružja.
Uništene tri zgrade u Damasku
Glasnogovornik Pentagona, general-pukovnik Kenneth McKenzie, rekao je da je na taj centar ispaljeno 76 projektila i da su "uspješno uništili tri zgrade u Damasku, jednom od najjače branjenih zračnih prostora na svijetu".
Miris požara i dima još se mogao osjetiti među ruševinama pet uništenih zgrada tijekom obilaska koji je za novinare organizirala sirijska vlada. Srušeni nisu samo kolni ulazi u centar i jedna zgrada koja je teško oštećena.
This image released by the US Department of Defense show the damage assessment at the Barzah research and development center before (L) and after (R) following US, French and British forces launched strikes agains Syria on April 14, 2018. US President Donald Trump and his British and French allies on Saturday hailed their joint strikes in Syria in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons, warning Damascus that any repetition would be met with renewed firepower. / AFP PHOTO / US Department of Defense / Jose ROMERO / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US Department of Defense" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS = ALTERNATIVE CROP
Totalno uništenje
Druge zgrade uglavnom su sravnjene sa zemljom. Od nekih je ostao stajati samo jedan ugao, a betonske ploče koje su nekoć bile krovovi ili podovi vise pod čudim kutovima.
Od autobusa parkiranog u blizini nije ostalo puno više od metalnog kostura jer su mu stakla raznesena, a oštećene su i obližnje palme.
This image released by the US Department of Defense show the damage assessment at the Him Shinsar chemical weapons storage site before (L) and after (R) following US, French and British forces launched strikes agains Syria on April 14, 2018. US President Donald Trump and his British and French allies on Saturday hailed their joint strikes in Syria in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons, warning Damascus that any repetition would be met with renewed firepower. / AFP PHOTO / US Department of Defense / Jose ROMERO / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US Department of Defense" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS = ALTERNATIVE CROP
Među ruševinama na rubu lokaliteta mogu se vidjeti razbacani ostaci pougljenjenih knjiga, laboratorijskih maski i rukavica, dokumenata, paketa lijekova, stolica i papira, dok na drveću vise ostaci zelene i bijele laboratorijske odjeće koje je raznio vjetar.
