Sean Spicer says Donald Trump will continue to 'exhibit leadership' on Syria
Sean Spicer said missile strikes on a Syrian airbase were “proportional” and “justified” despite it inflaming tensions with the regime’s ally Vladimir Putin. Speaking to Fox News, he backed the military action on the Sharat airbase in Homs after a chemical attack in Idlib – which the Syrian government denies being responsible for – killed 80 people. Mr Spicer said: “The President took very decisive and proportional justified action against Syria a couple weeks ago.” He said Donald Trump had “made it clear at the time” that “gassing babies and children was just horrific”.
GETTY•FOX NEWS Sean Spicer hailed the US strikes on Syria
The rest of the civilised world stands strong with the United States in condemning these acts. I think the United States will continue to exhibit leadership Sean Spicer
Fox News claimed the Syrian leader was “saying they were child actors – at just one year old” in the pictures that emerged from the attack. Mr Spicer continued: “I don’t think that anybody in their right mind believes that. When you look at the countries that are left supporting Syria, it’s Iran, North Korea, it’s a very small group of folks. “The rest of the civilised world stands strong with the United States in condemning these acts. I think the United States will continue to exhibit leadership.” Speaking about Russian relations, he remained hopeful the US would still be able to have “mutual cooperation” with Mr Putin over their “shared interest” in fighting ISIS.
Countries that support and oppose the missile strikes in Syria Mon, April 10, 2017 European countries have been broadly supportive so far as President Trump ordered missile strikes against a Syrian airfield from which a deadly chemical weapons attack was launched Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 7 SYRIA OPPOSES: President Bashar al-Assad's office denounced the U.S. strike as 'reckless, irresponsible behavior.'
GETTY Donald Trump's strike on Syria has stirred tensions with Russia