US President Donald Trump.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer called US President Donald Trump’s decision to order the firing of Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting targets at Shayrat base, Homs province, Syria, on the morning of April 7, a deliberate process.
April 4
Chemical attack in Syrian town
Early in the morning of April 4, a string of information about a chemical attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, northern Syria, killing more than 80 people and injuring 400, appeared continuously.
President Trump said that the images shown in the media of the victims at the scene of the attack were `very, very disturbing` and `traumatic,` Mr. Spicer said.
`He (Trump) was extremely emotional and considered this an extremely tragic event,` Spicer said.
Rebel groups and relief organizations operating in the area immediately condemned the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for causing the incident.
Nearly two hours after Trump was briefed on the chemical attack in Syria, White House Press Secretary Spicer read a statement from the US President.
`Today’s chemical attack in Syria is an act against innocent civilians, including women and children, that deserves condemnation and cannot be ignored. The atrocities committed by the regime of Bashar al-
By evening, interdisciplinary teams continuously presented plans to the US President to respond to the situation in Syria at a closed meeting.
The White House and the Pentagon continue to conduct detailed discussions on the action plan.
April 5
US President Donald Trump (right) during a joint press conference with Jordanian King Abdullah II on April 5.
The intense discussion sessions lasted into the morning and afternoon of April 5.
In a joint press conference at the White House that afternoon, US President Trump and Jordanian King Abdullah II jointly condemned the chemical attack in Syria.
`I have to be responsible,` Mr. Trump affirmed before reporters.
April 6
On April 6, Mr. Trump was briefed by the national security team about the missile attack on the Syrian base.
President Trump reconvened the national security team on Air Force One at around 1:30 p.m. on April 6 while on his way to Palm Beach, Florida, to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the resort.
Around 4:00 p.m., according to Mr. Spicer, President Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Mattis, National Security Advisor McMaster and others continued to meet in a strictly protected private room at Mar-a.
At around 7:40 p.m. (US time), two ships USS Ross and USS Poter in the eastern Mediterranean launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting targets at the Shayrat base.
US warships launched missiles to attack bases in Syria
After President Trump and first lady Melania took Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan for a walk around Mar-a-Lago, the four of them had a cozy party.
The US President informed the Chinese President about the missile attack at the end of the dinner.
According to Spicer, President Trump was informed about the effectiveness of the attack.
Mr. Trump `immediately asked about the reaction from the international community as well as congressional leaders and was told that there was much praise for this decision.`
Image of Syrian air base after US airstrike