Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas) on Thursday night called on President Trump to make the case to Congress for his administration to take military action in Syria after the U.S. struck at an airbase in the country in response to a deadly chemical attack this week, according to The New York Times.

"Any military action in Syria must be justified as protecting the vital national security interests of America – including decisive action to prevent chemical weapons from falling into the hands of radical Islamic terrorists," Cruz said in a statement.

"I look forward to our Commander-in-Chief making the case to Congress and the American people how we should do so in the coming days," Cruz said.

Trump described the launch of nearly 60 missiles at a Syrian airbase on Thursday night as in the "vital national security interest" of the U.S., addressing the public roughly an hour after the missiles were launched from two Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean.

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“It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons,” Trump said in nighttime remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., where he is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping through Friday.

A number of lawmakers including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have described the U.S. strike on the Syrian airfield as a proportional response to Tuesday's chemical strike, which left scores of civilians dead, including women and children, but warned of further escalation.

Several lawmakers, including Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulGOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill Overnight Health Care: Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill | Democrats reveal Medicaid chief's spending on high-paid consultants | Trump calls question about why he 'lied' about COVID-19 a 'disgrace' MORE (R-Ky.) and a number of Democrats, have called on Trump to seek congressional authorization for military action against Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom the U.S. has blamed for the gas attack, described as the worst in the country since 2013.

"The President needs congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution, and I call on him to come to Congress for a proper debate," Paul said in a statement on Thursday night. "Our prior interventions in this region have done nothing to make us safer, and Syria will be no different."