At 11.46 Australian time today, the United States launched dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield in response to the banned chemical weapons attack earlier this week, believed to be Sarin.

Wednesday’s attack has reportedly killed at least 100 people including 25 children, according to the U.S. military’s briefing.

The United States Defence Department has conformed two U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea, the USS Ross and the USS Porter, fired 59 Tomahawk missiles intended for a single target — Shayrat Airfield in Homs province in western Syria.

Shayrat airfield is believed to be the base from where the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired the banned weapons.

The Pentagon said people were not targeted, and there was no immediate word on casualties. U.S. officials told NBC News that aircraft and infrastructure at the site were hit, including the runway and gas fuel pumps.

U.S. President Donald Trump is in Florida for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinpeng. Defense Secretary James Mattis accompanied by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

Vice President Mike Pence and two dozen Congress members were briefed by administration officials and monitored the events from the Situation Room at the White House.

Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson told reporters on Thursday that “there is no doubt in our minds” that the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack while the Defense Department called the strike a “proportional response to Assad’s heinous act,” saying it was “intended to deter the regime from using chemical weapons again.”

Syrian television on the other hand characterised the missile strike “as American aggression” on Friday morning. But Ahrar Al Sham, the largest Syrian armed rebel group, told NBC News it “welcomes any U.S. intervention through surgical strikes that would deter the Assad regime capabilities to kill civilians and shorten the suffering of our people.

The Defense Department Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the Defense Department, said initial assessments showed that the airfield was severely damaged, reducing Syria’s capability to deliver chemical weapons.

Meanwhile in Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave a press conference, declaring the nation’s support.

“The chemical weapons attack earlier this week was a cry that called out for a swift response and the U.S. have responded,” Mr Turnbull said.

“The effect of the American response has been to reduce the ability of the Syrian government to deliver more attacks of this kind. We have discussed the matter as a coalition partner and the Australian government strongly supports the American attack. It sends a strong message.

We have been consistent in our condemnation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere in the world as a war crime and violation of the international law (…) such actions violate the very principles of humanity. The perpetrators must be held to account.”

Mr Turnbull reassured that the U.S. conducted a highly targeted strike, and that no Australian assets were involved in today’s operations. However, he did confirm that Australia will be “reinforcing our air-force protection in the Middle East,” without explaining what that will entail.

“This was a single strike designed to reduce the ability of the Syrian regime to deliver more chemical weapon attacks from this airfield. The retribution has been proportionate and swift; we support the U.S. in its decision (…) it sends a vital and important message to the Assad regime.”

The Prime Minister went on to stress the Russian government’s responsibility in Syria’s predicament.

“Russia a supporter of the Assad regime; needs to assume responsibility; to ensure that its client, the Assad regime, complies with the rules of war. There is a solemn obligation for Russia to play its part and help end the use of chemical weapons…”

When asked if the coalition is at war with the Assad regime, Mr Turnbull was quick to point out that the American attack was not designed to overthrow the Assad regime and repeat that the aim was to prevent the use of chemical weapons again.

“We are not at war with the Assad regime,” he said. “However, the political solution in Syria is a complex one, and raises real questions as to whether there can be any role for the Assad regime in the region.”

In the regard of Australia being further involved in military actions targeting the Syrian regime in the wider region, the Prime Minister’s response was equally vague but it came across as an affirmation.

“President Trump has asked for all civilised nations to join his efforts. We have been engaged in a dialogue over the Eastern Syria territory for quite some time. There is no doubt the chemical attack on its own is asking for a resolution. That requires all of the strong players, including Russia to bring this conflict to an end. This is the time. Now that the U.S. have shown their full force in response. Surely now is the time for the nations of the world to come together and bring this war to an end.”