*RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday expressed its full support for US-ledstrikes on Syrian government military installations, saying they were aresponse to “regime crimes” against civilians.*

“Saudi Arabia fully supports the strikes launched by the United States,France and Britain against Syria because they represent a response to theregime’s crimes,” a foreign ministry statement said.

The statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, said the strikeswere prompted by the “Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons againstinnocent civilians, including women and children”.

The United States, France and Britain said they launched the strikesSaturday in response to an alleged chemical attack on the former rebel townof Douma near Damascus a week ago.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have been key backers of Syrianopposition groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

Riyadh has backed the Jaish al-Islam rebel group, which held the Syriantown of Douma where the suspected toxic gas attack on April 7 took place.

Syria’s foreign ministry on Saturday lashed out at Riyadh, saying it wasnot surprised to see it back the US, France and Britain’s attacks onmilitary installations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said Paris has “proof” the Syrianregime used chemical weapons, a claim denied by the Damascus government. -APP/AFP