April 12, 2018 / 8:12 AM / Updated 5 minutes ago

Trump says ordered precision strikes against Syria chemical weapons capabilities

Reuters Staff

1 Min Read

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered precision strikes targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities after a weekend poison gas attack that killed at least 60 people on April 7.

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman departs with its strike group towards the Middle East from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. April 11, 2018. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Danny Ray Nunez Jr./Handout via REUTERS

Trump said a combined operation with France and Britain was under way.

“A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,” Trump said in a televised address from the White House.

Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Sandra Maler

Our Standards: