Why U.S. Is Bombing Syria: Trump Explains In 2 Sentences

The United States recently launched nearly 60 Tomahawk missiles against a regime airbase in Syria. This marks the first intentional US attack since the year the war broke in Syria in 2011. Several days before this, Syria made headlines across the world after a chemical weapon attack that killed many civilians, including children, in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the province of Idlib.

In an interview with reporters, U.S. President Donald Trump explained the reason behind America’s strike against Syria.

Two sentences, in particular, stood out from Trump’s statements.

In his own words, Trump said:

“Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread of chemical weapons.”

Trump’s explanation was even echoed by Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis.

In an email to the press, Davis stated:

“The strike was intended to deter the regime from using chemical weapons again. The use of chemical weapons against innocent people will not be tolerated.”

So yes, America is bombing Syria not to end the civil war or to oppose the civilian killings.

Instead, the “targeted military strike” is, according to Trump himself, a direct response against the chemical attack. In other words, it is intended to warn Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about the use of chemical weapons.

Micah Zenko, a military intervention expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, posted a comment on Twitter saying:

“Trump’s statement makes it clear [that] US cruise missile strikes are for enhancing [the] international norm against chemical weapons use, not protecting Syrian civilians.”

Simply put, the United States may have never intervened if Syria killed people using explosives instead of chemicals.

This, of course, is a risky thing considering that the missile assault isn’t only against Syria but could directly kill Russian soldiers who are in the country. People are fearing that Trump’s attack may potentially spark further conflict.

Watch the ABC coverage here:

Meanwhile, officials in the Trump administration urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to drop support on the Syrian government.

On ABC’s “This Week”, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said:

“I hope Russia is thinking carefully about its continued alliance with Bashar al-Assad, because every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer into some level of responsibility.”