Just hours after the United States, France and the UK dropped more than 100 bombs against suspected chemical weapons facilities in Syria, US President Donald Trump declared victory.
He wrote "Mission Accomplished!" on Twitter, a phrase that brought immediate comparisons to President George W Bush's misplaced optimism following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
British and French officials also praised the operation, arguing Western intervention was needed to deter President Bashar al-Assad's government from using chemical weapons in the future.
Trump and European leaders had spoken of intervention earlier this week after a suspected chemical weapons attack in the former rebel stronghold of Douma last weekend, killed around 85 civilians.
But analysts question the reasons for these latest raids - which signalled that Western leaders would not let a chemical weapons attack go without punishment - but demurred about deeper involvement when barrel bombs are used.
And in a conflict where more than 465,000 people have been killed and over 12 million people - half the country's prewar population - have been displaced, what benefit would they bring?
Everyone needs to stop congratulating themselves over the air strikes in Syria, says Al Jazeera's Senior Political Analyst, Marwan Bishara.
"Everyone is celebrating and declaring victory which is bizarre since so many Syrians have suffered over the years, and the bombings have just taken place," he said.
"The Syrian regime is claiming victory, declaring a Morning of Steadfastness, while showing pictures of Assad supporters in the streets.
"You have the Iranians declaring victory over their non-changing situation, influence and presence in Syria.
"Then you have the Russians taking the high moral and legal ground against Western powers.
"Finally you have the Americans declaring 'Mission accomplished,' with the British and French saying they 'did what they had to do' without killing civilians.
"Bizarrely, everyone is declaring victory and no one seems to have learnt anything from this lesson and how to move forward."
