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Trump orders missile strike on Syria after chemical weapon attack on civilians Trump orders missile strike on Syria after chemical weapon attack on civilians
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has ordered the firing of 50 cruise missiles at targets in Syria – a retaliatory blow for the President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians.Donald Trump has ordered the firing of 50 cruise missiles at targets in Syria – a retaliatory blow for the President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians.
Reports said that the missiles, fired from from two US Navy vessels in the Mediterranean Sea and their targets included Shayrat air base in the central city of Homs from which the Syrian aircraft staged Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack, which killed up to 100 people. Reports said that the missiles, fired from from two US Navy vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, targeted Shayrat air base in the central city of Homs from which the Syrian aircraft staged Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack, which killed up to 100 people. The missiles were launched between 8-9pm Eastern Standard Time
Mr Trump had been weighing up the option of a military response to Mr Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians in Idlib province.Mr Trump had been weighing up the option of a military response to Mr Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians in Idlib province.
“Tonight, I ordered a limited airstrike on the airfield from where this attack was launched,” Mr Trump said in a televised address.
“Previous attempts at changing Assad’s behaviour have failed and failed very badly. Tonight, I’m calling all civilised nations to help us end the slaughter and bloodshed.”
The president had spoken in the Rose Garden of the White House about how the images he had seen of dead children had changed his opinion on Mr Assad.The president had spoken in the Rose Garden of the White House about how the images he had seen of dead children had changed his opinion on Mr Assad.
While on route to Florida to meet with the Chinese president, he was asked his thoughts on Mr Assad and he said “something should happen”.While on route to Florida to meet with the Chinese president, he was asked his thoughts on Mr Assad and he said “something should happen”.
This is a breaking news story. More will follow shortly CNN said that that Mr Trump had been considering various options that were presented to him by his military chiefs. On Thursday evening, he met with defence secretary James Mattis and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the different choices he said.
The president was reportedly given a modest option and a more extensive operation that would have destroyed much more infrastructure and probably more loss of life. 
As it was, it appears Mr Trump opted for a more moderate response, targeting the air-base believed to have been used for a deadly attack on the Syrian population, but nothing that would appear sufficient, at least at this stage to dislodge the Assad regime.
Initial reports suggested that the US struck one airfield, fuel supplies and various Syrian aircraft.
Mr Trump’s options were complicated by a number of factor. Russian troops are on the ground in Syria and Washington would go to extremes to avoid casualties among its forces. Indeed, reports from the Pentagon suggested that Russia had been warned in advance of the imminent operation.
There are also US special forces operating in Syria, along with anti-Assad rebels, a number of which have received arms, training and funding from the US and members of its coalition. Alongside all of this, the US, along with Iraqi and Kurdish forces, are seeking to push back Isis, which makes its headquarters in the Syrian city of Raqqa.