JOSH RANNEY
Assistant News Editor
Streaks of light from both missiles and anti-aircraft fire lit up the skies over central and southern Syria two weeks ago.
The American missile strike was carried out along with support from allied forces from the United Kingdom and France.
Threats and discussion of possible retaliation began after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allegedly issued an attack on Syrian civilians outside of the capital of Damascus using chemical weapons. The attacks killed 42 men, women and children.
On April 10, President Donald Trump said the U.S. was looking at a “forceful” response to the chemical attack. Adding that officials from the White House and the Pentagon were considering “a lot of options militarily,” and that a decision would be coming “shortly.”
Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May echoed Trump’s response.
“We are working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened. But we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary,” said May.
Hostilities involving Syria trace back to the Cold War. Russia has a history of supporting, and continues to support, Syria and the Assad regime.
After the recent chemical attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the chemical attack in Damascus was staged, although the U.S., U.K. and France all say they have proof the attack was carried out by Assad. This evidence has yet to be disclosed.
Russia, which has troops stationed in Syria who are defending the Syrian government from the U.S.-backed rebels, said that any retaliatory attack on Syrian or Russian troops would start a war.
Nevertheless, after a week of deliberation between Trump, May and French President Emmanuel Macron, a strategic military attack was devised.
The attack was carried out with strikes hitting three designated targets in Syria. The targets were chosen specifically to cripple Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities.
There were other strategic targets as well: a research center, a storage facility, an equipment facility and a command post.
Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told a press pool that the attacks were a “serious blow” to the Assad regime. According to McKenzie, strikes hit “at the very heart” of the chemical weapons program.
Although the Pentagon said that these strikes were very damaging, they did not eliminate Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities completely.
After the attacks, the Russian response was quick. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the air strikes were an “act of aggression” that could “have a destructive effect on the entire system of international relations.”
After these attacks, the United States and its allies are still left with uncertainties. According to Vox, Assad could potentially use chemical weapons on civilians again, the U.S. and its allies could bomb Syria again, or Assad could attack the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria.
Regardless, tensions in the Middle East are heating up once again. But this time, Donald Trump is calling the shots for the United States.