United States Agency for Global Media

MBN’s coverage of the U.S. missile strike in Syria

April 10, 2017

Springfield, VA — In the hours leading up to the announcement of the U.S. air strike in Syria, Alhurra’s Pentagon Correspondent was notified that an important event would be taking place that evening. Alhurra was able to put plans into place to have live comprehensive coverage as soon as it was announced that the U.S. launched an air strike on the Shayrat air base in Syria.

Alhurra started its live coverage at 9:26 p.m. (EDT) and brought viewers the latest updates throughout the night and the next day with more than 12 hours of live news coverage. The network aired President Trump’s remarks announcing the air strike several times during its coverage. It also broadcast the debate in the UN Security Council live with simultaneous translation.

The television network’s coverage included comments and reaction from all facets of the U.S. government including the Secs. of State and Defense; the National Security Advisor; top generals and Congressional leaders. Alhurra’s correspondents were stationed throughout the night at the Pentagon, White House, State Department and Congress to provide viewers updates as new information became available. Alhurra also interviewed Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), as well as Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway to share their reaction with viewers. The network also had extensive reaction from American political analysts and U.S. experts on the Middle East.

Beyond the U.S., Alhurra had regional and international reaction including Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, France, Britain, Japan and Indonesia. It also reported on reaction from Russia, Iran and Syria; as well as the Syrian opposition.

Alhurra’s coverage of the ongoing reaction and analysis of the air strike was also streamed on the network’s Facebook page. Updates were tweeted and posted on Facebook throughout the coverage.
As a point of comparison, both Russia Today and Al Manar focused solely on the Russian and Iranian reaction, condemning the U.S. missile strike and saying it violates international law.

Radio Sawa broadcast comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and US Amb. to the U.N. Nikki Haley. The radio network also interviewed the Governor of Homs, the former Syrian ambassador to Iran, Syrian opposition leader and a member of the Syrian National Command. Sawa Magazine focused on the international reaction to the air strike and what impact it will have on the war in Syria; guests included representatives from the Syrian opposition, Syrian’s ruling party, an American political analyst and a Russian political analyst.

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