President Trump is threatening imminent retaliation against the Syrian government over alleged chemical weapons attacks, but on Wednesday his Defense chief said that the incident is still being reviewed.
Journalists at the Pentagon asked Secretary James Mattis if he was confident that the Assad government was responsible for the strike, which happened over the weekend. The attack took place in the Damascus suburb of Douma, reportedly killing 49 civilians.
Mattis demurred, saying, “We’re still assessing the intelligence, ourselves and our allies. We’re still working on this.”
The President was far more definitive earlier on Wednesday. On Twitter, Trump called the Syrian President a “Gas Killing Animal” and warned that US missiles “will be coming.”
The episode has also increased tensions between the US and another nuclear armed power.
Russia, an ally of the Syrian Government with troops on the ground in the country, promised to shoot down US missiles and possibly retaliate against American launch sites. Trump described relations with Moscow as “worst now than it has ever been,” including the Cold War.
Backing the President are European allies equally resolute in threats to strike Syrian government targets. French President Emmanuel Macron called for a “strong and joint response.”
This would, however, not be the first time the Syrian government was targeted by US airstrikes after an alleged chemical attack. Last April, Trump ordered a military strike, including dozens of US Tomahawk missiles, against a Syrian air base, in what was described by defense officials as a “one-off.”
The administration has so far not offered a legitimate legal justification for either last year’s strike or pending new ones. Earlier this week, Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) attempted to make that point via the President’s favorite communication medium.
“Congress hasn’t authorized war against Syria. Unless Pres Trump expects imminent attack on U.S., use of force is unconstitutional & illegal,” Amash tweeted on Monday.
Despite that, while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Mattis said the Pentagon “stands ready to provide military, if they’re appropriate, as the President determines.”
