President Trump explains why he ordered military strike on Syria in video statement

President Donald Trump released a video statement Thursday explaining the reasoning behind the  tomahawk missile attack against Syria.

"On Tuesday, the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians," Trump began. "Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many."

"Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack," he continued. "No child of God should ever suffer such horror.

"Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched," he explained. "It is in this vital security interest of the United States, to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.

"There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons," he said, "violated its obligations under the Chemicals Weapon Convention, and ignored the urging of the U.N. Security Council. Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically."

"As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize," Trump explained, "threatening the United States and its allies. Tonight, I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types."

"We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world," he continued. "We pray for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who have passed. And we hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will in the end, prevail."

"Good night and God bless America and the entire world," Trump concluded.

Pres. Trump: “Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria” https://t.co/MFHk830Z8G https://t.co/MOgkJ605Qx

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 7, 2017

Trump ordered the launch of 50 to 60 tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian airfield, where the suspected chemical attack on civilians originated. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that there could be no doubt that President Assad ordered the terrible chemical attack.

Earlier Trump had admitted that the video of children struck by the chemical attack changed his position towards regime change for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Some, like Charles Krauthammer and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), criticized the administration for earlier signaling that they would not seek the topping of Assad, which they say may have emboldened him to the chemical attack.