PARIS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called a top defense meeting to discuss the situation in Syria following the U.S.-led airstrike on Syria.
Macron, tweeted a picture of himself in a meeting with army chiefs and concerned ministers. "The use of chemical weapons endangers the Syrian people and the security for all. The armed intervention of this night shows our determination," he wrote.
Earlier on Saturday, Macron gave the green light to the French military to join the United States and Britain in an operation targeting "clandestine chemical arsenal" in Syria.
The decision came after Syrian government forces allegedly used chemical weapons against rebels in Douma, a town near Damascus, earlier this month.
The Syrian government has denied the allegation and called the reports fake news used by the West to justify its attacks on Syria.
Breaking with the previous administration's policy which set the Syrian president's departure as a pre-condition to resolve the conflict, Macron had previously expressed willingness to speak with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the seven-year conflict.
However, he repeatedly warned that he would intervene militarily if alleged use of chemical arms would be proved.
France's participation in the U.S.-led military operation in Syria has sparked fierce debate at home.
