On Thursday, April 7, the United States engaged in the Trump Administration’s first direct military action against another government. Thursday evening, early Friday morning in Syria, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the decks of two warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. These missiles were not targeted at civilian areas, but rather struck Shayrat air base, located in the heart of territory currently controlled by pro-regime forces in Syria’s civil war.

These strikes were in response to a chemical weapons attack earlier that week, in which the Syrian government deployed prohibited chemical weapons against civilians in areas controlled by rebel forces. This use of chemical weapons violated international law, prompting the U.S. intervention.

This latest intervention by the United States is just another layer in Syria’s ever-evolving civil war. While the war has raged for six years, other foreign powers have become increasingly involved in recent years. One of the foreign powers backing the Syrian government is Russia. The United States is currently trying to determine what, if any, knowledge the Russian military had of the chemical weapons attack by Syria.

During an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council the day before the U.S. took action, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called out the apparent Russian apathy.

“How many more children have to die before Russia cares?” Ambassador Haley asked.

The U.S. move to get involved drew both approval and rebuke from the international community. Syrian allies, including Russia, China, and Iran, moved to condemn the U.S. missile strike. On the other hand, American allies in the Middle East and other western nations lauded the swift action by the American military.

Although there is not yet a comprehensive plan in terms of military action in Syria, the White House is seemingly holding open the option of future action.

During his April 10 press briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, “I think what not just Syria but the world saw last week is a President that is going to act decisively and proportionally and with justification when it comes to actions like that.  And I will tell you, the answer is…that if you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you can – you will see a response from this President.”

Jefferson Daubitz

News Editor