World News

An armada of 12 warships — the largest US strike force since the 2003 Iraq war – is steaming toward the Middle East as President Trump mulls an attack on Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians, according to a report.

The US and its allies fired more than 100 cruise missiles at Syria, a significant number of which were intercepted by Syrian air defenses, Russia and Syria said Saturday.

The Defense Department said Friday night that U.S., British and French forces struck three Syrian facilities that officials believe play a key role in Syria’s ability to research, produce and store chemical weapons.

The U.S. launched missile strikes on Syria Friday night in coordination with Britain and France in retaliation for Syria’s chemical-weapons attack on civilians last weekend.

Russia warned late Friday there would be ‘consequences’ for President Trump’s decision to proceed with airstrikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons facilities, according to Moscow’s representative to the U.S.

A team of inspectors from the international chemical weapons watchdog was on its way to Syria on Thursday to begin an investigation into a suspected chemical weapons attack near the capital that has brought the war-torn country to the brink of a wider conflict, amid Western threats of retaliation and Russian warnings of the potential for ‘a dangerous escalation.’

The White House is considering eight potential Syrian targets in retaliation for a chemical weapons assault, a US official told CNBC Thursday.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said no decision had been reached Thursday by President Trump about a strike on Syria and that the U.S. was still waiting to see the evidence of a chemical attack.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo confirmed Thursday that U.S. forces killed ‘a couple hundred’ Russian mercenary troops in Syria in a strike earlier this year that he said sent a distinct signal to Moscow.

President Donald Trump and his national security aides on Thursday discussed U.S. options on Syria, where he has threatened missile strikes in response to a suspected poison gas attack, as a Russian envoy voiced fears of wider conflict between Washington and Moscow.

President Trump huddled with his national security team Thursday amid mounting speculation of a military attack in response to Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons, while Britain’s Cabinet gave the green light to join the U.S. and France in planning a strike.

France has proof the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack last week and will decide whether to strike back when all the necessary information has been gathered, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Researchers have found hundreds of years’ worth of critical rare-earth metals beneath Japanese waters — enough to supply to the world on a ‘semi-infinite basis,’ according to a study published on Tuesday.

President Trump directed U.S. trade officials Thursday to explore rejoining the Obama administration’s free-trade deal with Pacific Rim nations, an agreement that Mr. Trump withdrew from last year, as he sought to ease farmers’ concerns about a tariff feud with China.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday voiced concern to the Security Council’s five permanent members over the ‘impasse’ on Syria, stressing ‘the need to avoid the situation spiraling out of control.’

A possibility of US-led strike on Syria appeared to gain traction Wednesday with President Donald Trump warning that ‘missiles will be coming’ in response to an alleged chemical attack in Syria, and the White House confirming that ‘a number of options’ were being discussed.

Having easily won re-election to a third term and clinching a two-thirds parliamentary majority for his ruling Fidesz party, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to crack down on liberal nongovernmental organizations.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted ballistic missiles and shot down drones sent from Yemen, in the latest attack by pro-Iranian rebels that showed improved military capabilities more than three years into the conflict.

China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday trade negotiations with the United States would be impossible as Washington’s attempts at dialog were not sincere, and vowed to retaliate should US President Donald Trump escalate current tensions.

The Russian military said on Wednesday it was closely watching the situation around Syria and was aware of the movements of a U.S. naval strike force headed for the Gulf.