by  Bryan Logan and Alex Lockie

The United States launched a salvo of more than missiles on
Shayrat airfield and nearby military infrastructure controlled by
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in response to a chemical
attack that killed at least 80 people in the northwestern part of
the country on Monday. The Tomahawk missiles, launched from the USS Ross and the USS
Porter at dawn local time, represent the first US strikes on the
Assad regime, according to a statement from the Pentagon. US President Donald Trump, initially resistant to the idea
of becoming involved in Syria, said it was in the vital
national security interest of the US to prevent the use of
chemical weapons. “No child of god should suffer such horror,” Trump said in a
televised address after the cruise missile strikes. “It is in
this vital national security interest of the United States to
prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.”

Autopsies have confirmed that the attack
involved chemical weapons, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
said there can be “no doubt” that Assad’s forces carried out the
attack. Both Syrian and Russian forces have denied responsibility
for the attack, with Russian forces claiming a conventional
airstrike hit a cache of chemical weapons owned by rebels in
Syria. International experts have dismissed this as an “infantile argument.” Though the US strike targeted infrastructure and
runways, a large volley of cruise missiles carries the risk of
collateral damage to troops stationed nearby. Initial reports
from Syrian military sources say the strikes “led to losses,” as Reuters notes.

Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking member on the House Intelligence
Committee, told MSNBC that the airfield had been vetted by US
forces to ensure civilians weren’t endangered and Russians in the
area were aware. The Trump administration said key US allies
had prior warning to the strikes.

Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN told reporters earlier
Thursday that there would be “negative consequences”
for 
“those
who initiated such
doubtful and tragic enterprise” should attacks occur in
Syria.

ISW

Russian and US warplanes have operated over Syria’s
contested airspace since Russia’s entrance into the Syrian
conflict in October 2015. The US became involved in the country
by training and equipping vetted groups of rebels fighting
against Assad as early as 2011. 

In 2014, the US and a coalition of 68 other nations joined
together to destroy ISIS, a terrorist group that declared
territory in the eastern part of Syria and parts of Iraq. The US
currently has a limited number of ground troops in eastern Syria,
away from the Assad regime, to support local forces in the fight
against ISIS.

“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 types,” said Trump after the
strikes.

Read Trump’s full remarks below:

“On Tuesday Syrian President Bashar al Assad launched a
horrible chemical 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 at 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
this vital national security interest of the Untied 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.

“Numerous previous attempts at changing Assad’s behavior have
all found 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 Syrian and also to end
terrorism of all kinds and all types. We asked for God’s wisdom
as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray
for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who
passed. And we hope as long as America stands for justice and
peace and harmony will in the end prevail.

“Good night and God Bless America and the entire world.”