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Trump said U.S., British and French forces had launched airstrikes targeting sites associated with Syria’s chemical-weapons capabilities, in response to a suspected attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime last weekend.
“A short time ago I ordered the United States armed forces to launch precision strikes,” Trump said in a statement on Friday.
Here is footage of the strikes from the Syrian Arab News Agency, via Storyful:
The strikes are intended to deter the Assad regime from using chemical weapons, which the government allegedly did last week in a suburb of Damascus. The order comes after Trump earlier in the week warned Syrian ally Russia to get ready for a military response in Syria.
“To Iran and to Russia, I ask what kind of nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men women and children,” Trump said in a televised statement.
On Wednesday, Trump, via Twitter, hinted that a military strike was imminent.
Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Here’s the video of Trump’s address regarding the military response in Syria.
Late Friday night, reactions from around the world began pouring in. Here are some notable statements on the attacks from global officials and congressional leaders in the U.S.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May:
The Prime Minister @theresa_may has made a statement on Syria: https://t.co/bBfYyowUIo pic.twitter.com/QlTeFXmOkt
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 14, 2018
Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Our track record of intervening in Syria and the Middle East is terrible.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) April 14, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron:
Le samedi 7 avril 2018, à Douma, des dizaines d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants ont été massacrés à l’arme chimique.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 14, 2018
La ligne rouge a été franchie.
J’ai donc ordonné aux forces armées françaises d’intervenir. https://t.co/Vt9LcFcFzH pic.twitter.com/Dc726PHfAR
That loosely translates to: “On Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Duma, dozens of men, women and children were massacred with chemical weapons. The red line has been crossed. So I ordered the French armed forces to intervene.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
BREAKING: PM Trudeau: "Canada supports the decision by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France to take action to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to launch chemical weapons attacks against its own people."
— Tony Grace (@tonygracectv) April 14, 2018
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan:
Speaker Ryan Statement on Military Action Against the Syrian Regime pic.twitter.com/sVmg8uUYgr
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) April 14, 2018
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy:
The barbarism from the Assad regime will not be tolerated. America and its allies are together to deliver the consequences from such heinous action. God bless our men and women in uniform.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 14, 2018
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise:
President Trump is right to assert that the Assad regime’s evil acts cannot go unanswered, and the nations that enable Assad’s murderous acts – namely Russia and Iran – must be put on notice and held to account.
— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) April 14, 2018
Sen. John McCain:
Armed Services Chairman @SenJohnMcCain applauds Trump for taking military action against Syria's Assad regime. pic.twitter.com/J6GO70aac7
— Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) April 14, 2018
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi:
.@realDonaldTrump must come to Congress to obtain a new AUMF, present a clear set of objectives, & ultimately hold Putin accountable for the bloodshed he has enabled. https://t.co/Mwdwbs289X pic.twitter.com/9f3AB1SJnX
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) April 14, 2018
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:
Schumer statement gives a limited endorsement of strikes: "A pinpointed, limited action to punish and hopefully deter Assad from doing this again is appropriate, but the administration has to be careful about not getting us into a greater and more involved war in Syria.”
— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) April 14, 2018
Sen. Tim Kaine:
Excerpt of statement from @timkaine: "President Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes against the Syrian government without Congress’s approval is illegal and – absent a broader strategy – it’s reckless."
— Ali Rogin (@AliABCNews) April 14, 2018
Russian ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov:
Statement by the Ambassador Antonov on the strikes on #Syria:
— Russia in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) April 14, 2018
A pre-designed scenario is being implemented. Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.
All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris. pic.twitter.com/QEmWEffUzx