US President Donald Trump says 'mission accomplished' after Syria airstrikes

French President Emmanuel Macron (R), US President Donald Trump (C) and UK Prime Minister Theresa May (AFP file photo)

US President Donald Trump claims “mission accomplished” in last night's airstrikes on several targets in Syria, praising France and the United Kingdom for joining the United States in carrying out the military action.

Trump once again took to his favorite social media platform on Saturday, tweeting, “A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military.”

“Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!" he said in the Twitter post.

Trump announced on Friday night that Washington in a coordinated attack with Britain and France had launched "precision strikes" on Syria in response to what they claim to be a chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7.

The West blames the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for carrying out the chemical attack. Damascus has consistently denied the allegation.

Former president George W. Bush claims an end to major operations in Iraq on May 1, 2003.

Trump’s claim about accomplishing a “mission” in Syria is reminiscent of the remarks then-US President George W. Bush made in 2003 after he declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq, less than two months of launching the Iraq invasion. The Iraq War, however, continued for  eight more years. 

During the Bush speech on the deck of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln back in 2003, a banner was seen behind him that read, "Mission Accomplished." At the end of his presidency, Bush admitted that the use of the phrase was "a mistake."

May: Airstrikes in Syria 'successful' 

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May also defended the airstrikes in Syria, saying they have been “successful.”

She called the attack as "right and legal,” saying, “This collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons.”

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, however, denounced the move as "legally questionable" in a letter to May. He said lawmakers should have been consulted before the airstrikes on Syria.

In response, Downing Street claimed that the UK was "permitted under international law" to take measures to "alleviate overwhelming humanitarian suffering.”