Transcript for U.S. launches military strike on Syria

This is an ABC news special report. Strike Owens Syria. Now reporting George Stephanopoulos. Good evening we're coming and they are right now because president trump has just ordered a military strike on Syria. He comes just two days after that horrific chemical attack by the thought regime that killed almost a hundred people including women and children. President trump called in an affront to all humanity now we have retaliated. And who have achieved global affairs anchor Martha Raddatz Martha all through this campaign just three days ago the president saying this is not our fight and as soon as he saw those pictures as soon as he saw those images from that chemical attack. He wondered action. I think this is the single fastest punishing strike I have ever seen. Just a couple of days he made his decision I also have to say. That secretary mabus who was cent com commander in 2013 when President Obama decided not to take action against Syria. This is something. He was frustrated by in 2013 he's now the secretary of defense they have plans in place and they've gone ahead with cruise missiles from navy ships in the letter to wanting our military consultant Steve dinner in Washington Steve you've flown military missions over. Iraq this appears to be tomahawk cruise missiles against air fields what does that say to you. George it says that the president wanted me to not risk any US slides into punish facade as quickly as possible so. We think the cruise missiles were launched by two US navy ships Arlene Burke class destroyers USS Ross in the USS Porter in the eastern Mediterranean. It would've flown likely over Levin on low altitude in coming back door. And hit targets within Syria into aside held terrain when that our chief White House correspondent John college on the president down in morrow lively your there as well for that summit with president Sheikh. A China surrounded by his entire brain trust. He sure is and I'm told we will hear from the president shortly a senior official confirming that these were tomahawk cruise missiles aimed. At Syrian regime held airfields George quite a turnaround for this. As a candidate repeatedly said if he was an America first candidate that Syria was not the United States problem. It we shouldn't focus on the United States. But now after seeing that chemical weapons attack he was very blunt yesterday speaking in the Rose Garden. It that changed his views on Syria and now he is ordered military action. I want to our chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran has won Terry last year you embedded with those Russian troops are also in Syria. Fighting with the United States again sites this one of the factors that complicates the US mission here. And we know that the the Russians were warning the United States against military action in the Security Council today. That's right George this action by president trump puts his administration squarely at odds with Vladimir Putin's Russia. In Syria those Russian troops are embedded with they change the war they saved Bashar Al Assad regime in Syria. And they are fighting not just ice is but fighting to protect a long time Russian strategic interest. They've got a base on the Mediterranean Sea there they project power throughout the men of Middle East. From there influence in Syria but. They aren't. Really committed to Bashar Al Assad the president of Syria they they they want to do a deal but this will make it harder. Okay Terry Moran and our entire team thank you very much for what we're waiting to hear from president from right now no word yet from the Russians are the Syrians the president trump. Has ordered and completed a military strike against Syria but much we need all the latest anytime an abcnews.com. And stay tuned for an update of world news tonight with even more I'm George Stephanopoulos in New York. This has been a special report. From ABC news.

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