Missile strikes on Syria underway

Missile strikes on Syria underway
By: Tara Copp   22 minutes ago

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) fires a standard missile 3 during exercise Formidable Shield 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Theron J. Godbold)



President Donald Trump told the American people late Friday that a retaliatory strike against Syria for its chemical attacks against civilians was underway, and would be part of a sustained response against the Assad regime.

“A combined operation ... is now underway,” Trump said at the White House, saying the operation involved the militaries of France, the U.S. and Britain.

No details were immediately available on the warships or aircraft that were involved. The Pentagon was expected to brief reporters later Friday night.

Mattis says no decisions on Syria yet, but said chemical weapons threat must be addressed
Mattis says no decisions on Syria yet, but said chemical weapons threat must be addressed

The defense secretary said use of chemical weapons against civilians is "beyond the pale" and needs an appropriate response from U.S. leaders.

By: Leo Shane III
The chemical attacks on Syria’s women and children have affected Trump in a way other war atrocities that have occurred during his term have not. The president tweeted early Sunday, just hours after the most recent April 7 attack took place. Trump did the same a year ago,, when similar images of murdered children, frozen in poses that suggested they struggle to breathe in their final moments of life, spurred an enraged response.


Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
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...
8:00 AM - Apr 8, 2018
101K
57.8K people are talking about this
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Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
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...
8:00 AM - Apr 8, 2018
101K
57.8K people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
This time, however, the U.S. took more time and engaged allies before launching a retaliatory strike. The difference in the two responses showed the desire by the U.S. to act in concert with its allies this time, and also reflected a strong desire by the U.S. to have a measured response that did not cause more civilian suffering and did not risk escalation with Russia.