Assad Uses Chemical Weapons Against Syrian People; United States Responds

Kate Wasson, Editor-at-Large

On Thurs. April 6, the Trump Administration launched 50 missiles in Syria, in retaliation of President Assad’s chemical attack on Tuesday.

“It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons,” Trump said.

These missiles were aimed at Syrian air fields where planes were launched in the chemical attack.

On Tues., as many as 84 people were killed in the worst chemical attack in years. Of this number, 27 were children and 19 were women. 546 people where injured.

The last time Syrians faced a chemical attack was in 2013, in which President Assad used chemical weapons at his own people. Ultimately, Syria agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention and allowed it’s chemical weapons to be destroyed.

“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,” Trump said. “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.”

In a joint statement, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham agreed with Trump’s actions, saying they were “an important message the United States will no longer stand idly by as Assad, aided and abetted by Putin’s Russia, slaughters innocent Syrians with chemical weapons and barrel bombs.”

In opposition, Senator Rand Paul retweeted Trump’s tweet after the 2013 chemical attack.

“What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval,” read Trump’s tweet.”This remains true today as it was in 2013. Both parts,” Paul then added Wednesday.

For more information on the conflict in Syria and the United States’ response, read Crisis in The Middle East.

* This is a developing story, more information to come