Trump Says Military Strikes On Syria Were In "Vital National Security Interest” Of US

The missile strikes were launched in response to Syria's use of chemical weapons in an attack Tuesday.

President Trump on Thursday night said the bombing of a Syrian airbase in response to President Bashar al-Assad's government's use of chemical weapons against civilians was in the "vital national security interest."

"Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children," Trump said. "It was a slow and brutal death for so many."

Trump spoke from his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida just minutes after the strikes took place at an airbase believed to have been used to launch the chemical attacks on Tuesday.

He spoke for just under three minutes, but graphically described the chemical attacks believed to have been launched by the Syrian government as he announced the US military action against Assad's regime.

"Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack," he said. "No child of God should ever suffer such horror."

The president said there was no doubt the Syrian government had been behind the deadly chemical attack, and that previous attempts to curb its deadly tactics had failed.

"As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies," he said.

"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," he added.

Read the full statement here:

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.

Here is the video of his remarks:

video-cdn.buzzfeed.com


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