The Trump administration has reversed course on Syria again, blaming President Bashar Assad for the alleged chemical attack in Idlib province and declaring he has no future leading Syria -- just days after publicly abandoning the policy of regime change.



"There is no doubt in our minds, and the information we have supports, that the Syrian regime under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad are responsible for this attack," Tillerson told reporters in Florida, ahead of the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.



"It is very important that the Russian government consider carefully their support for Bashar al-Assad." Tillerson added.

Asked if the US will lead a regime change effort in Syria, Tillerson said that "those steps are underway."



The abrupt change comes after the allegations that the Syrian air force used chemical weapons against civilians in Idlib province, heavily publicized by Al-Qaeda-affiliated White Helmets rescue group.

"I think what happened in Syria is a disgrace to humanity," US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Florida. "He's there, and I guess he's running things, so something should happen," he added.



Damascus has denied using chemical weapons, saying that its jets targeted an arms depot where chemical weapons stockpiles were stored by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front militants. The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that account of events.

The Pentagon is developing options for a military strike in Syria, unnamed government officials told the New York Times on Thursday. A planned US attack was aborted in 2013, after Russia negotiated the Syrian surrender of all chemical weapons stockpiles.



The US priorities in Syria would be defeating IS and stabilizing the liberated territories, followed by working with international partners on a "political process that would lead to Assad leaving," Tillerson said. The chemical attack is a "serious matter and requires a serious response," he added.

President Donald Trump is being briefed on the full range of military options in Syria, after the White House blamed the government in Damascus for the alleged chemical attack that killed dozens of civilians in Idlib province.



Among the options would be using cruise missiles to attack Syrian targets and "grounding" Syrian aircraft, an unnamed US official told Reuters on Thursday. The official did not say how likely US military action would be, however.



Secretary of Defense James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster have been discussing the matter, the official said. Mattis is due to meet with Trump later in the day at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat, where a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is underway.



US Navy has two warships on alert in E Med to strike in Syria if necessary, officials say — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) April 6, 2017

USS Ross and USS Porter are the 2 Navy warships in Med to strike Syria, if necessary. Both moved to Rota, Spain two years ago — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) April 6, 2017

Trump on if he told mbrs of Congress of plan to use military action in Syria: I don't want to mention that, but the answer is no I haven't — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 6, 2017

NEW: Hillary Clinton says "we should have and still should" take out Assad regime's airfields in Syria - @albamonica — NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) April 6, 2017

Pro-Trump twitter hasn't had this unified of a message since the election. An excellent response to a potentially terrible decision. #syria pic.twitter.com/iqnLirL1wL — J. Baptiste Say 🌹 (@Eruanion) April 6, 2017

Veterans and alt-right turn against @RealDonaldTrump over suggestions of U.S. military action on Syria. An example: pic.twitter.com/mhqGfyJRWm — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 6, 2017