On April 7, the Assad regime again used chemical weapons to attack innocent Syrian civilians. The Assad regime, backed by Putin’s Russia, is in direct violation of international law. Over the course of the last five years, the United States and global allies have used every diplomatic tool available to hold Assad accountable. These actions include United Nations resolutions condemning the attacks and the international community enforcing sanctions on actors supporting the Assad regime, including Russia and Iran. Assad has thus far refused to comply.
On Friday, the United States, together with France and the United Kingdom, conducted a series of retaliatory airstrikes in Syria, including the Barzah Research and Development Center, which was instrumental in the creation and protection of Assad’s chemical weapon stockpile.
According to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, the airstrikes carried more than double the number of missiles used by previous coalition-forces strikes. Additionally, the U.S. targeted two other chemical weapons centers, essentially leveling the three locations in efforts to terminate further chemical attacks on the people of Syria.
I look forward to working with my colleagues and President Trump so that both the United States, and the international community, issue stricter sanctions on Russia for their participation in this barbarism. We must not forget about Iran’s presence in this region, a recognized sponsor of global terrorism. I support the President in his quest to secure safety for the people of Syria and stability in the region.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
