U.S. launches strike on Syrian military airfield: Here’s what we know

President Donald Trump suggests that Syrian President Bashar Assad may have to leave power after this week’s chemical weapons attack. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that what happened in Syria is a disgrace to humanity. AP

The U.S. launched cruise missiles against Syria Friday, a day after President Trump said a chemical weapons attack that killed 86, “crossed many, many” lines.

Here’s what we know so far:

Why did the U.S. attack? 

Back in 2013, President Obama set a “red line” against the use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assad. The regime proceeded to use the weapons to kill 1,400 civilians, but Obama did not attack — a move Trump and other Republicans widely criticized as making America look weak.

In the wake of that episode, Assad agreed to turn over his stockpile of chemical weapons. This week’s chemical attack clearly violated that pledge. Trump called the attack — which killed at least 86 people, 27 of them children —  “a disgrace to humanity” and “truly one of the egregious crimes.”

Read the rest of the story on USA Today

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