WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday said that he will make a “major decision” on a response to a suspected chemical weapon attack in Syria that killed scores of people — “a barbaric act,” he called it — over the next 24 to 48 hours.
“It was an atrocious attack. It was horrible,” Trump told reporters who were briefly brought into the room ahead of his Cabinet meeting at the White House. “This is about humanity … and it can’t be allowed to happen.”
Of the weekend attack near Damascus, the president added, “If it’s the Russians, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out.”
Trump’s warning seemed to conflict with his frequent criticism of his predecessors, chiefly former President Barack Obama, for telegraphing potential military strikes and thus taking away the element of surprise. Many experts say such warnings can have a strategic benefit, however, and also minimize civilian casualties.
By his latest statements Trump has raised the pressure to act militarily; after an earlier chemical attack a year ago, he ordered a limited strike against a Syrian airfield. As a candidate and president, he often condemned Obama for drawing a “red line” suggesting Syria’s use of chemical weapons would invite retaliation, and then failing to follow up.
Trump is to meet with his senior military advisers Monday evening at the White House.
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