Trump says won't let Assad get away with 'horrible' actions
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E-mail Xinhua, July 26, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he won't let Syrian President Bashar al-Assad get away with the "horrible" actions he has done.
"I am not a fan of Assad. I certainly think what he has done to that country and to humanity is horrible," Trump said at a joint press conference with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the White House.
"I have been saying that for a long time. I am not somebody that will stand by and let him get away with what he tried to do," Trump warned.
In April, Trump ordered the U.S. military to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles against a Syrian airbase in response to alleged chemical attack launched by the Syrian government forces. It was the first direct U.S. assault on the Syrian army since Syrian crisis began six years ago.
In June, the White House said the U.S. had identified the Syrian government's potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack, warning of "a heavy price" if such attacks are conducted.
In response, Syria denied the U.S. claim of Damascus' intention to use chemical weapons, slamming it as baseless.
On Tuesday, Trump also renewed the attack on his predecessor Barack Obama for not taking more decisive actions against Assad.
Obama should have crossed the red line he had drawn in regard to Assad's actions, Trump said, adding that "some horrible acts against humanity took place, including gas and the killing through gases."
Trump's comments on Assad came days after reports that he had decided to halt the CIA's covert program to equip and train certain rebel groups fighting Assad's forces.
The covert program that began in 2013 was designed as part of efforts by Obama to overthrow Assad, but it produced little success. Analysts said Trump's decision indicated his administration's diminishing desire to force Assad to step down.
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