
US, UK and France-led air strikes on Syria have raked a wave of reactions from political leaders all across the globe. While US President Donald Trump praised Western air strikes against the Syrian government as "perfectly executed", and added "Mission Accomplished", Russia called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
India also reacted to the incident stating that the country closely follows the situation. The official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs called the "alleged" use of chemical weapons "deplorable".
"We have taken note of the recent strikes in Syria. India is closely following the situation. The alleged use of chemical weapons, if true, is deplorable. We call for an impartial and objective investigation by the OPCW to establish the facts," the MEA noted.
The Ministry urged all Parties to show restraint and to "avoid any further escalation in the situation".
"The matter should be resolved through dialogue & negotiations and on the basis of the principles of the UN Charter & in accordance with international law," the statement read.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday backed air strikes by the United States, France and Britain as a "necessary and appropriate" action to warn Syria against further use of chemical weapons.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan noted that the operation sent a message to Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad that "its massacres would not be left unanswered".
A Western attack on Syria hit a scientific research facility in Damascus and Syrian army depots in the Homs area, state media said, and a witness said the Syrian capital was rocked by explosions as smoke rose into the sky.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a second research facility was also struck in Damascus, in addition to a third in the Homs area, and five military bases and depots used by elite army divisions in the Mezzeh area of Damascus.
(With inputs from agencies)