Developing: Trump Says He's Hitting Syria
Following another suspected chemical attack in Syria over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced the United States’ plan to respond with force.
“We’re making a decision as to what we do with respect to the horrible attack that was made near Damascus, and it will be met and it will be met forcefully,” the president told reporters during a Cabinet Room meeting with military leaders on Monday. “When, I will not say because I don’t like talking about timing.”
Trump was joined by his newly appointed National Security Advisor John Bolton, along with Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford.
Although the president wouldn’t specify exactly when the U.S. will respond, he said the group will “make a decision tonight or very shortly thereafter and you’ll be hearing the decision.”
President Trump: We can’t let atrocities like the attack we witnessed in Syria happen, especially when we are able to stop it pic.twitter.com/vw9pz664BR
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) April 10, 2018
The suspected chlorine gas attack killed dozens of Syrian civilians in the rebel-held suburb of Damascus.
“Syrian activists, rescuers and medics said the attack in Douma killed at least 40 people, with families found suffocated in their houses and shelters,” Fox News reported.
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
Trump said he will hold whoever was responsible for the attack accountable.
“We can’t let atrocities like we all witnessed … happen in our world,” Trump said. “Especially when we’re able to — because of the power of the United States, because of the power of our country — we’re able to stop it.”
The government of Bashar al-Assad has denied using gas against its own people.
“The Syrian government and Russia have vehemently denied involvement in the attack and accused rebels in Douma of fabricating the chemical attack claims in order to hinder the army’s advances and provoke international military intervention,” CNN reported.
Barack Obama’s failure to act in Syria during his presidency is a primary reason another attack could be carried out, Trump said.
If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
On Monday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president still wants to pull troops from Syria once ISIS is defeated there.
“The president wants to bring our troops home after we complete the mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria,” Sanders said. “At the same time he wants to make sure Assad is deterred from chemical weapons attacks on innocent civilians. Signaling we want to remove our troops in no way degrades our ability to hold parties responsible.”
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