Chemical Attack In Support Of Russian-Backed Syrian Government Kills 58; Trump Blames Obama

WASHINGTON DC — At least 58 people, including 11 children, were killed by chemical attacks Tuesday in Syria, either by government forces or Russian jets supporting them in what would be the deadliest attack of the country's civil war, according to multiple reports that included chilling photos of victims.

President Trump acknowledged that the attack was made by the Bashar al-Assad regime but then took the extraordinary step of assigning blame for what amounts to dozens of war atrocities to his predecessor, President Obama.

"Today’s chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world," the president said in a statement."These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution. President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a 'red line' against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing. The United States stands with our allies across the globe to condemn this intolerable attack."

The previous president had once said that using chemical weapons would cross a "red line" for the Syrian government; after evidence emerged that the government had used chemical weapons, however, the president hesitated to respond with force. Instead, the administration attempted to work out a deal with the Russians for Assad to dismantle his chemical weapons.

Trump did not mention Russia in his statement, which has been supporting the Assad regime for months.

First reports of the attack came from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Tuesday, which said that the city of Khan Sheikhoun was attacked by either the Syrian government or Russian jets using suffocating and debilitating gas. The BBC noted that if these reports are accurate, it would be one of the deadliest attacks of the Syrian civil war.

Agence France-Presse published photos showing some of the fallout and victims of the attack (images may be disturbing to some readers):

SOHR said that medical teams were treating people for fainting, vomiting and foaming at the mouth.

Politico's Matthew Nussbaum reported that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said it's in the "best interest of Syrian people" that President Bashar Al-Assad not be in power.

Spicer also put some of the blame on the Obama administration, as Trump did.

"What's the point of red lines?" Spicer said. "America's credibility was at stake."

He also said he was not read ready to talk about the administration's next steps on Syria.

Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican, criticized the Trump administration's approach to Syria on CNN.

"Didn't we learn a lesson when Barack Obama refused to do anything?" he asked. "The United States of America is known to help people who want freedom and democracy. None of us are arguing for American troops on the ground there to fight against Bashar Assad. But we certainly believe we can fight ISIS, and we can help people who are struggling against this incredibly — one of the great brutal dictators of history: Bashar Assad and his minions."

He continued: "These are war crimes on the scale almost unmatched since Nazi Germany or Pol Pot."

At a photo-op Tuesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was asked for comment about the attack in Syria but gave no response:

Tillerson later released a statement condemning the attack and assigned blame to the Russian government.

"While we continue to monitor the terrible situation, it is clear that this is how Bashar al-Assad operates: with brutal, unabashed barbarism," he said. "Those who defend and support him, including Russia and Iran, should have no illusions about Assad or his intentions. Anyone who uses chemical weapons to attack his own people shows a fundamental disregard for human decency and must be held accountable."

He continued: "As the self-proclaimed guarantors to the ceasefire negotiated in Astana, Russia and Iran also bear great moral responsibility for these deaths."

Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images