Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that he supported "both the action and objective" of the military strike on Syria by the U.S. and its allies and announced by President Donald Trump.
"Tonight, the administration notified me of the president's decision to use military action to deter Bashar al-Assad and respond to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people," the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
"The tactics employed by the Assad regime to consolidate gains and terrorize the people of Syria defied the U.S. position that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable."
McConnell said that last year the U.S. and allies used cruise missiles to strike Shayrat Airfield in central Syria, "from which aircraft used in a chemical weapons attack had been launched, and against assets of importance to the regime such as aircraft, hardened shelters, and air-defense systems.
"These actions were intended to make clear to Assad that the use of chemical weapons would be met with a response.
"Assad ignored that warning," McConnell said. "He ignored the declaratory policy of the United States.
"He chose to terrorize the people of Douma."
McConnell said that "the planning for this robust operation by the United States and our allies was clearly well considered.
"It is evident that the president was provided with a number of options, and that our forces executed a challenging mission."
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