President Trump Issues Statement on Syria Attack

Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

From Cosmopolitan

Following the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians earlier this week, President Donald Trump ordered an attack on a Syrian air base on Thursday evening, launching approximately 60 cruise missiles at the country from the Mediterranean Sea. The president later addressed the attack in a video statement, citing the "horror" of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons attack and the need "to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons."

You can read the entirety of Trump's statement below:

My fellow Americans, on Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar 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 - even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror.

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 and use of deadly chemical weapons.

There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and ignored the urging of the UN Security Council. Years of previous attempts at changing Assad’s behavior have all failed and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.

Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types. We ask for God’s wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded and the souls of those who have passed, and we hope that as long as America stands for justice then peace and harmony will prevail. Good night, and God bless America and the entire world. Thank you.

You Might Also Like