Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Florida Thursday night, President Trump gave a statement shortly after the United States launched 60 cruise missiles into Syria. The missiles were launched in response to the Assad regime's chemical attack on civilians, including children, earlier this week.
"On Tuesday, President Bashir al-Assad, launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many," President Trump said. "Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread or use of deadly chemical weapons."
President Trump- "Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched." pic.twitter.com/D4qmenEsXg
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 7, 2017
.@POTUS- "Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria" https://t.co/ECxrr8rQgo pic.twitter.com/NAiX0Y5xlA
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 7, 2017
It is unclear whether this attack by the U.S. is the only response or if it is part of series of responses. The President reportedly had the backing of a number of countries through the UN Security Counsel to carry out the attacks.