Special Report: International Response to Assad Chemical Weapons

President Donald J. Trump announced combined U.S., French and British forces launched precision strikes April 13, 2018, against chemical weapons capabilities in Syria to deter Syrian leader Bashar Assad from using banned chemical weapons.

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Senior Defense Department Officials Brief Pentagon Reporters

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White and Joint Staff Director Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. brief reporters at the Pentagon, April 19, 2018.

KC-135 Stratotankers and F-15C Fighting Falcons assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted refueling support and defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gaspar Cortez)

KC-135 Stratotankers, F-15C Fighting Falcons Take Off

KC-135 Stratotankers and F-15C Fighting Falcons assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. Assigned aircraft conducted refueling support and defensive counter air operations during the strikes in Syria.

F-15C Fighting Falcons assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gaspar Cortez)

F-15C Fighting Falcons Take Off

F-15C Fighting Falcons assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. Assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations during U.S. military strikes in Syria.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White briefs reporters at the Pentagon concerning U.S. and allied strikes on Syrian targets in response to the Bashar Assad regime's use of chemical weapons, April 14, 2018.

Pentagon Officials Brief Reporters

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Joint Staff director, brief reporters on U.S. and allied strikes targeting the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons infrastructure, April 14, 2018.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks at the United Nations.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Discusses Strikes on Syria

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley gives a statement during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York, April 14, 2018. A transcript will be available at https://usun.state.gov.

Air Force maintenance personnel conduct final checks on a B-1 bomber on a dark flightline.

Airmen Prepare Bomber Supporting Strike Operations

Air Force maintenance personnel conduct final checks on a B-1 bomber before it takes off to strike chemical weapons targets in Syria, April 14, 2018. Air Force video

A missile launches from a submarine at sea.

Submarine Launches Missile From Mediterranean Sea

The fast attack submarine USS John Warner launches a Tomahawk missile from the Mediterranean Sea, April 14, 2018, as part of a strike operation to degrade the Syrian government's capability to produce and utilize chemical weapons. Navy video

A missile launches from a ship at night.

USS Monterey Launches Syria Missile Strikes

The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy video by Seaman Trey Fowler

Guided Missile Cruiser Launches Syria Missile Strikes

The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy video by Seaman Trey Fowler

President Addresses Nation Concerning Military Strikes

President Donald J. Trump announces he ordered the U.S. military to launch precision strikes on targets in Syria associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, April 13, 2018.

Mattis, Dunford Brief Reporters on Syria Strikes

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief reporters at the Pentagon about military operations in Syria, April 13, 2018.

Briefing Slides

Defense Department News Briefing Slides, April 14, 2018

RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE IN SYRIA

Timeline of Chemical Use

April 13, 2018

President Donald J. Trump announced combined U.S., French and British forces launched precision strikes against chemical weapons capabilities in Syria:

“Following the horrors of World War I a century ago, civilized nations joined together to ban chemical warfare. … The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons.”

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis issued remarks regarding combined U.S., French and British forces’ precision strikes against chemical weapons installations in Syria:

“Together, we have sent a clear message to Assad, and his murderous lieutenants, that they should not perpetrate another chemical weapons attack for which they will be held accountable.”

April 9, 2018

President Donald J. Trump denounced the attack in remarks delivered before a Cabinet meeting at the White House:

“This is about humanity. We're talking about humanity. And it can't be allowed to happen.”

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis responds to questions about possible U.S. response to the attack:

“Working with our allies and partners, from NATO to Qatar and elsewhere, we are going to address this issue.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivers remarks in an emergency U.N. Security Council briefing:

“History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria. Either way, the United States will respond.”

Photos

An aircraft is seen from another in the air.

Falcon Flight - An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies below a KC-135 Stratotanker, April 15, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted refueling support and defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez

A bomber separates from the boom of another aircraft.

Bomber Refueling - An Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber separates from the boom pod after receiving fuel from a KC-10 Extender following its participation in a multinational strike against chemical weapons targets in Syria, April 14, 2018. Two B-1Bs operating from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, released 19 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range weapons during the operation. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Laboon Launch - A Tomahawk missile launches from the guided missile destroyer USS Laboon in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kallysta Castillo

Flames erupt as a missile launches at night.

Night Launch - The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Daniels

A guided missile cruiser fires a Tomahawk missile.

Missile Launch - The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Daniels

Tomahawk Fire - The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Daniels

A missile surrounded by flames launches from a ship at night.

Monterey Missile - The guided missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk missile in the Red Sea, April 14, 2018, while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Daniels

Night Flight - An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe takes off from a base in Europe, April 14, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Satran

Red light casts a glow on the interior of a cockpit with two pilots at the controls.

Aerial Lights - Air Force pilots conduct aerial operations in a KC-135 Stratotanker, April 13, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted refueling support operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith

An aircraft is seen refueling with another through night vision device.

Falcon Fueling - An F-16C Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, April 13, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted refueling support and defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith

Stratotanker Takeoff - A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe takes off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted refueling support operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luke Milano

Eagle Ascent - An F-15C Eagle assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe takes off from a base in Europe, April 14, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Harvill

Eagle Takeoff - An F-15C Eagle assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe takes off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher S. Sparks

Eagle Taxi - An F-15C Eagle assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe prepares to take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew

Eagle View - F-15C Eagles assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe prepare to take off from a base in Europe, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew

Preflight Checks - A U.S. Air Force maintainer conducts checks on an F-15C Eagle, April 11, 2018. U.S. Air Forces in Europe-assigned aircraft conducted defensive counter air operations to support combined air and maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea during U.S. military strikes in Syria. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Brooks