Precision U.S. missile strikes are being launched against targets in Syria. President Trump announced the actions during a speech to the nation tonight. Trump said the strikes are a response to the recent, deadly chemical weapons attacks in Syria. It is a joint operation with Britain and France. Trump blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the chemical attacks. He said, "These are not the actions of a man, they are crimes of a monster." The attacks have raised tensions with Russia, which is a key Assad ally.
Iran is another top ally of the Assad regime. President Trump asked Iran and Russia if they want to be associated with mass murder. Assad and Russia have denied involvement in the chemical weapons attacks. Dozens of people were killed in the attacks on a town outside Damascus. Meantime, there are roughly two-thousand American ground troops in Syria. They are part of the coalition that has been combating ISIS in the war-torn nation.