U.S. fires missiles into Syria in response to chemical weapons attack

• The U.S. launched nearly 60 missiles aimed at strategic air force targets in Syria Thursday night in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack which killed more than 80 civilians on Tuesday.
• President Donald Trump said during a special announcement on Thursday night that there was no doubt the regime of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the attack, calling it “barbaric.”
• This was the first use of direct military action by the U.S. since the start of the six-year civil war in Syria which has killed more than 470,000 people.
• The missiles hit the government-controlled Shayrat air base in central Syria, where U.S. officials say the Syrian military planes that dropped the chemicals had left from.
• The U.S. attack marked a departure for Trump, who warned against the U.S. getting involved in Syria’s civil war during his campaign.
• While it is unclear whether Trump is adopting any larger effort against the Assad regime, the President and his aides acknowledged Syria’s use of chemical weapons may force them to rethink their recent statement that Assad would remain in power.

Below are the president’s full statement on his decision to order the assault:

My fellow Americans:

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 United 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.

Questions:

1. Essential question: What are some of the factors often involved in international conflicts throughout world history?
2. Aside from Syria, what other countries have been involved or have an interest in the Syrian conflict?
3. Do you think the U.S. should have launched airstrikes in Syria on Thursday night? Why or why not?
4. Why is it important for a nation to have clear objectives when it comes to its foreign policy?

See Extra’s Daily News Story which discusses the chemical weapons attack in Syria.