WASHINGTON - The United States, Britain and France decided to strike Syria for its apparent use of chemical weapons without waiting for a report from United Nations inspectors.
U.S. officials say the allies were convinced that the Syrian government had used chlorine and possibly sarin nerve gas to attack a rebel-held Damascus suburb on April 7, killing more than 40 people.
The airstrikes were launched as a fact-finding team was in the Syrian capital, and had been expected on Saturday to head to Douma.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statement about the airstrikes in Syria:
"I strongly support the action taken last night by the US-UK-France alliance in response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own people. This type of behavior has become a pattern for the Assad regime and I sincerely hope last night’s strikes reinforce our determination to confront those who would use chemical weapons. Russia and Iran share responsibility for Assad's brutal treatment of Syrian civilians; they must ensure Assad never uses chemical weapons. It’s never an easy choice to put our military in harm's way but I am grateful to all those involved and continue praying for their safety."
Sen. Risch is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
