DUBAI: The Syrian army said that seven people were killed and serious damage was caused by a US missile strike on an airbase in the centre of the country early on Friday.
"At 3:42 am (0042 GMT) the United States carried out a flagrant aggression with missiles against one of our airbases in the central region, killing six people and wounding a number of others, and causing significant damage," a spokesman said, reading from a statement on state television, without specifying whether the casualties were civilian or military.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump ordered a massive military strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation for a 鈥渂arbaric鈥� chemical attack he blamed on President Bashar Assad.
In a brief televised address delivered hours after the UN Security Council failed to agree on a prove into the apparent chemical attack, Trump confirmed the US strike on Syria and urged 鈥渁ll civilized nations鈥� to unite to end the bloodshed in the country.
鈥淥n Tuesday Syrian dictator Bashar Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians using a deadly nerve agent,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淓ven beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack.鈥�
鈥淭onight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.鈥�
鈥淭onight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end this slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types,鈥� Trump said.
The US military fired dozens of cruise missiles at the Shayrat Airfield at 8:45 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 GMT), officials said.
Some Russian officials believe that the US air strikes on a Syrian airbase could undermine efforts to fight terrorism, RIA news agency quoted Viktor Ozerov, the head of the defence and security committee at the Russian upper house of parliament, as saying on Friday.
He also said that Russia would call for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
A White House official said 59 鈥減recision munitions鈥� had been blasted at the base, while a US defense official said 鈥渄ozens鈥� of Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched.
The missiles were fired from the USS Porter and the USS Ross, which belong to the US Navy鈥檚 Sixth Fleet and are located in the eastern Mediterranean. A US official said the missiles targeted aircraft and runways at the base.
The sudden US military action against the Assad regime marks a stunning development in Syria鈥檚 brutal, six-year conflict and a sudden about-face for Trump.
It came despite a warning from Russia of potential 鈥渘egative consequences鈥� if Washington strikes Syria.
鈥淎ll responsibility if military action occurs will be on the shoulders of those who initiated such a doubtful tragic enterprise,鈥� Russian Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov said.
A US official said Washington had informed Russia ahead of the Syria strike.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had earlier vowed an 鈥渁ppropriate response鈥� to the attack in Khan Sheikhun in rebel-held Idlib province, which killed at least 86 people, including 27 children.
The White House official said the United States assesses that the Assad regime used a chemical nerve agent consistent with sarin in Tuesday鈥檚 attacks.
WATCH: Punishing Assad: US fires cruise missiles at Syria air base
The fast-moving events come just days after the Trump administration had signaled it was no longer seeking the Syrian leader鈥檚 departure from power.
The attack on Khan Sheikhun appears to have marked a turning point for Trump and his administration.
On Wednesday Trump decried the attack as an 鈥渁ffront to humanity.鈥� He seemed horrified by photographs showing dead children and victims suffering convulsions, breathing problems and foaming at the mouth.
鈥淚t crossed a lot of lines for me,鈥� Trump said, alluding to Barack Obama鈥檚 failure to enforce his own 鈥渞ed line鈥� on the use of chemical weapons in Syria four years ago.
In 2013, Trump had urged then-president Obama not to intervene against Assad.
In a startling about-turn, Tillerson called Thursday for 鈥渁 political process that would lead to Assad leaving鈥� and said his future role in the country was 鈥渦ncertain.鈥�
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Thursday repeated the regime鈥檚 denial it conducted a chemical strike.
鈥淭he Syrian army has not, did not and will not use this kind of weapons 鈥� not just against our own people, but even against the terrorists that attack our civilians with their mortar rounds,鈥� he said.
Russia has stood by its longtime ally, with President Vladimir Putin warning against a rush to judgment.
Putin underlined 鈥渢he unacceptability of making unfounded accusations against anyone before a thorough and impartial international investigation is carried out.鈥�
The UN children鈥檚 agency UNICEF says at least 546 people were wounded in the suspected chemical attack.
More than 30 people were transferred across the border into Turkey for treatment, and Ankara said a preliminary probe found a link between these injuries and sarin.
(With Agencies)