Sen. John McCain calls for retaliation after Syrian chemical attack

U.S. Senator John McCain thinks the United States needs to retaliate forcefully against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad after a chemical attack against the country’s citizens on Saturday.

“(President Donald Trump) responded decisively when Assad used chemical weapons last year,” McCain said in a press release. “He should do so again, and demonstrate that Assad will pay a price for his war crimes.”

On Saturday, a gas attack in a rebel-held town near Damascus killed at least 40 people, according to the Associated Press.

This comes as Trump has moved to scale back U.S. involvement in Syria. He hasn’t ordered removal of the 2,000 troops, but has signaled he wants troops out within six months, according to the Associated Press.

McCain called al-Assad “emboldened by American inaction” and said Trump needs to respond.

“President Trump was quick to call out Assad,” he said. “The question now is whether he will do anything about it.”

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