Secretary Mattis: Trump Ordered Strikes To Degrade 'Syrian War Machine'

James Mattis briefs Reporters on U.S. strikes in Syria at The Pentagon

One hour after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had joined with France and Britain in launching military strikes against government targets in Syria, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis briefed reporters at the Pentagon asking "responsible nations" to join in condemning the Assad government. 

"As our commander-in-chief, the president has the authority under Article II of the Constitution to use military force overseas to defend important United States national interests," Mattis said. 

The defense secretary said the U.S. and its allies had taken "decisive action" against three targets in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack against civilians in a suburb outside Damascus. Mattis told reporters that the Allied coalition struck because Assad's government did not "get the message" after the U.S.  launched cruise missiles after a chemical attack last year. 

The Russian government was not warned of the attacks that were "specifically designed to degrade the Syrian war machine's ability to create chemical weapons," Mattis said. 

Mattis also described the strikes as a 'one time shot' and that the Pentagon had "no additional attacks planned," unless the Syrian government used these types of weapons again. 

Friday's strikes have "sent a clear message" to Assad and his "murderous lieutenants," Mattis said. 

The Pentagon said they would have a full briefing with further details of the strikes Saturday morning. 

Photo: Getty Images


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