According to CNN reports, President Trump is considering retaliatory military action against Syria in response to this week’s chemical attack that killed over 70 people.
“Yesterday’s chemical attack, a chemical attack that was so horrific in Syria against innocent people, including women, small children and even beautiful little babies, their deaths were an affront to humanity,” Trump said Wednesday during a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan.
Speaking with reporters on Air Force One Thursday, Trump said that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad bore responsibility for the attack and that “something should happen” in response to the atrocity:
“I think what Assad did is terrible. I think what happened in Syria is one of the truly egregious crimes. It shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen. I think what happened in Syria is a disgrace to humanity. He’s there, and I guess he’s running things, so something should happen.”
A source told CNN that that “something” could be military action, which he has discussed with Defense Secretary James Mattis. Later Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that “steps are under way” for organizing an international coalition to remove Assad, something Sen. John McCain and Rep. Lindsey Graham called for Thursday in a joint statement.
“The message from the United States must be that this will not stand. We must show that no foreign power can or will protect Assad now. He must pay a punitive cost for this horrific attack,” the statement read, in part.
The administration’s previous military actions have been less than successful. A January raid in Yemen left many wounded and dead, including a Navy SEAL and civilians. Last month, a drone strike on a gathering in Aleppo left over 40 civilians dead. Trump has averaged one airstrike per day since taking office.