Trump threatens war with Assad as he brands Syria chemical attack ‘an affront to humanity’
DONALD Trump slammed the Syrian chemical attack as "an affront to humanity" as the US warned it may take military action to punish Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The US President accused the Syrian dictator of being behind the gas airstrikes that killed 100 during a press conference with Middle East ally King Abdullah of Jordan.
"These heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated," Trump said today at the White House.
He added: "My attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much."
The President branded the attack a "horrible thing, unspeakable", continuing: "It's a terrible affront to humanity.
"When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies... that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines."
It came as US ambassador Nikki Haley threatened military action as world fury mounted over the sickening nerve gas attack.
In a highly-charged emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Ms Haley held up graphic images of babies killed in the atrocity - some still in their nappies - insisting: “Look at those pictures”.
She mounted a withering attack on Russia for propping up tyrannical President Bashar al-Assad, saying: “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?”
Ms Haley told the session: “When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action”.
During his press conference, Trump repeated his accusation that President Barack Obama's "weakness" led to the atrocity.
He claimed the Obama administration issued a "blank threat" to Assad that using chemical weapons would result in consequences.
Trump says it was "not one of our better days as a country" when Obama failed to strike in 2013 after saying a chemical attack by Assad would cross a US red line.
He acknowledged that now "I have that responsibility and I will carry it proudly."
Traumatised witnesses told how birds fell from the sky during the chemical attack in Syria that left at least 100 dead.
Victims painted a horrific picture of the attack that left dozens of kids dead - as world leaders pinned the blame on Assad.
The airstrikes hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun, in the central province of Idlib, yesterday morning.
Doctors treating the victims said they suffered symptoms matching those caused by exposure to the deadly nerve agent sarin, including foaming at the mouth.
One Syrian rebel told : "All the pictures and all the witness accounts suggest as much.
"Bodies of children, women and men that don't show a drop of blood and everyone is suffocated - even birds fell from the sky, dead.
"If anyone in the world has any doubt, they should send their representatives here."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said many of those killed died from suffocation and the effects of the gas.
The British-based group said 18 people died at first but the death toll later rose to 35 and now 100 - including 11 children.
The air strikes also wounded 400 others.
The raids were carried out by planes believed to be loyal to the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
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PM Theresa May condemned the “barbaric” attack and called on Russia to ensure Assad's regime is brought to an end.
Mrs May said: "I'm appalled by the reports that there's been a chemical weapons attack on a town south of Idlib allegedly by the Syrian regime.
"We condemn the use of chemical weapons in all circumstances.
"If proven, this will be further evidence of the barbarism of the Syrian regime.
"The UK has led international efforts to call to account the Syrian regime and Daesh for the use of chemical weapons and I would urge the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate this incident as soon as possible.
"I'm very clear that there can be no future for Assad in a stable Syria which is representative of all the Syrian people and I call on all the third parties involved to ensure that we have a transition away from Assad.
The attack reportedly caused people to choke or faint, with some reportedly foaming at the mouth in an apparent sign of a gas attack.
Activists in northern Syria circulated pictures on social media showing a reported victim with foam around his mouth, and rescue workers hosing down almost naked children squirming on the floor.
The Syrian American Medical Society said its doctors had determined that the symptoms of the patients were consistent with exposure to sarin.
SAMS head Ahmad Tarakji said: “This should strike at the very core of our humanity.”
British-trained medic Dr Shajul Islam, who works in northern Syria, told how stricken civilians with "pinpoint pupils" had poured into hospital after the attack.
Speaking in a video he posted to twitter, Dr Islam said: "I will show you the evidence again and again, but you know what? The world doesn't care and no-one is doing anything.
"We urge you to put pressure on your government - put pressure on anyone - to help us."
He added that the incident was “definitely not a chlorine attack” – something backed up by other witnesses.
Mohammed Hassoun, a media activist documenting the attack for the medical society, said medics had told him there was likely more than one chemical used.
He said: "There are 18 critical cases here. They were unconscious, they had seizures and when oxygen was administered, they bled from the nose and mouth… chlorine gas doesn't cause such convulsions."
Survivors of the attack received no mercy as a rocket slammed into a hospital filled with the victims, raining rubble down on top of medics battling to save people.
The National Coalition has now called on the UN Security Council to "convene an emergency session..., open an immediate investigation and take the necessary measures to ensure the officials, perpetrators and supporters are held accountable".
The statement added: "Failure to do so will be understood as a message of blessing to the regime for its actions."
It accused the "regime of the criminal Bashar" of carrying out the attack, using "shells containing chemical gas".
DEADLY CHEMICAL WEAPON: What are the effects of nerve agent sarin?
Doctors treating some of the victims in the suspected chemical attack in Syria said they had symptoms matching those caused by exposure to sarin.
Sarin is a deadly nerve agent used in chemical warfare.
It was banned by the chemical weapons convention. Sarin has similar harmful effects to certain kinds of insecticides (insect killers).
Some of the symptoms of sarin poisoning include: Difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth, convulsions and paralysis.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has condemned the attack and said Assad will be guilty of "war crimes" if he is behind it.
The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment. Damascus has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons.
A Syrian military source said last week allegations that government forces were using chemical weapons were "devoid of truth".
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