Costa Statement on U.S. Missile Attack Against the Government of Syrian President Assad

Fresno, CA – Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement regarding the United States launching a missile attack against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

"President Donald Trump's decision to launch a limited missile strike in Syria was the correct action to take to send the message to President Bashar al-Assad that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated by the United States. Assad's horrific actions are not only attacks on his own people, but he is putting Western civilization and the entire world at risk.

"The Trump Administration needs to come up with a comprehensive strategy to combat the Assad regime, and if the Authorization for Use of Military Force is necessary, then Congress must act. I stand ready to work with my colleagues in Congress and President on this issue.

"Chemical weapon attacks in 2013 took the lives of 1,400 Syrians and this week's attack continues to darken the moral stain of Assad's regime which is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of nearly 500,000 of its own people.

"It's important to highlight that Russia President Vladimir Putin supports Assad. Russia is our adversary, and the United States must remain vigilant in combatting all efforts that seek to undermine our nation's Democracy and our democratic allies in Europe who share our freedoms and way of life."