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U.S. to hit Russia with new sanctions for aiding Syria's Assad

By HOPE YEN and ROBERT rebels.
BURNS Russia and Iran called the
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- use of force by the United
dent Donald Trump on States and its French and
Sunday defended his use British allies a "military crime"
of the phrase "Mission Ac- and "act of aggression."
complished" to describe The U.N. Security Council
a U.S.-led missile attack rejected a Russian resolu-
on Syria's chemical weap- tion calling for condemna-
ons program, even as his tion of the "aggression" by
aides stressed continuing the three Western allies.
U.S. troop involvement and Assad denies he has used
plans for new economic chemical weapons, and
sanctions against Russia for the Trump administration
enabling the government has yet to present hard evi-
of Bashar Assad. dence of what it says pre-
Stepping up the pressure cipitated the allied missiles
on Syria's president, U.S. attack: a chlorine gas at-
Ambassador Nikki Haley tack on civilians in Douma
indicated the sanctions to on April 7. The U.S. says it
be announced Monday suspects that sarin gas also
would be aimed at sending was used.
a message to Russia, which In this image released by the Department of Defense, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber separates from "Good souls will not be hu-
she said has blocked six at- the boom pod after receiving fuel from an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on April 13, 2018, en route miliated," Assad tweeted
tempts by the U.N. Security to strike chemical weapons targets in Syria. while hundreds of Syrians
Council to make it easier gathered in Damascus, the
to investigate the use of British warplanes and ships not done." stressed that the French di- capital, where they flashed
chemical weapons. launched more than 100 Haley said the three U.S. plomacy is able to talk with victory signs and waved
"Everyone is going to feel missiles nearly unopposed goals for accomplishing Iran, Russia and Turkey on flags in scenes of defiance
it at this point," Haley said, by Syrian air defenses. its mission are making sure one side and to the United after the early morning bar-
warning of consequences While he declared suc- chemical weapons are not States on the other side. rage.
for Assad's foreign allies. cess, the Pentagon said used in a way that could He said, "Ten days ago, The strikes "successfully hit
"The international commu- the pummeling of three harm U.S. national interests, President Trump wanted every target," said Dana W.
nity will not allow chemical chemical-related facilities defeating the Islamic State to withdraw from Syria. We White, the chief Pentagon
weapons to come back left enough others intact group and having a good convinced him to remain." spokeswoman. The military
into our everyday life," she to enable the Assad gov- vantage point to watch The nighttime assault on said there were three tar-
said. "The fact he was mak- ernment to use banned what Iran is doing. Syria was carefully limited to gets: the Barzah chemical
ing this more normal and weapons against civilians if "We're not going to leave minimize civilian casualties weapons research and de-
that Russia was covering it chooses. until we know we've ac- and avoid direct conflict velopment site in the Da-
this up, all that has got to His choice of words re- complished those things," with Russia, but confusion mascus area, a chemical
stop." called a similar claim as- she said. arose over the extent to weapons storage facility
Trump tweeted Sunday sociated with President Haley said the joint military which Washington warned near Homs and a chemical
that the strike was "perfect- George W. Bush follow- strike "put a heavy blow Moscow in advance. The weapons "bunker" a few
ly carried out" and that "the ing the U.S.-led invasion of into their chemical weap- Pentagon said it gave no miles from the second tar-
only way the Fake News Iraq. Bush addressed sailors ons program, setting them explicit warning. The U.S. get.
Media could demean aboard a Navy ship in May back years" and reiterated ambassador in Moscow, Although officials said the
was by my use of the term 2003 alongside a "Mission that if Assad uses poison gas John Huntsman, said in a singular target was Assad's
"Mission Accomplished."" Accomplished" banner, just again, "the United States is video, "Before we took ac- chemical weapons capa-
He added that he knew weeks before it became locked and loaded." tion, the United States com- bility, his air force, including
the media would "seize" apparent that Iraqis had French President Emmanu- municated with" Russia to helicopters he allegedly
on the phrase, but said it organized an insurgency el Macron said Sunday that "reduce the danger of any has used to drop chemical
should be used often. "It is that would tie down U.S. France wants to launch a Russian or civilian casual- weapons on civilians, were
such a great Military term, forces for years. diplomatic initiative over ties." spared. In a U.S. military ac-
it should be brought back," On Sunday, Haley made Syria that would include Russia has military forces, in- tion a year ago in response
he wrote. clear the United States Western powers, Russia and cluding air defenses, in sev- to a sarin gas attack, mis-
Trump tweeted "Mission won't be pulling troops out Turkey. Speaking on French eral areas of Syria to sup- siles took out nearly 20 per-
Accomplished" on Satur- of Syria right away, saying television BFM and online port Assad in his long war cent of the Syrian air force,
day after U.S., French and U.S. involvement there "is site Mediapart, Macron against anti-government the Pentagon said.q