Story highlights Her comments are the most direct threat of unilateral action by the US delegation at the UN to solve the Syria crisis

The Syrian military under Assad has denied responsibility for the attack

Washington (CNN) US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley strongly condemned Russia and the Syrian government Wednesday over the chemical weapons attack on civilians, suggesting that the US is open to using military action to solve the country's ongoing civil war.

"When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action," Haley said. "For the sake of the victims, I hope the rest of the council is finally willing to do the same."

Haley, who is also the UN Security Council president, was speaking as the council considers a resolution condemning the Assad regime for the attack, which killed dozens, including many children. Russia, which backs the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has troops in Syria, is likely to veto the resolution.

"How many more children have to die before Russia cares?" Haley said, leaving her presidency chair as she displayed photos of the victims.

For now, Haley's comments are the most direct threat of unilateral action by the US about acting on the Syria crisis -- but they mark a departure from the Trump administration's more hands-off stance on Syria and may be more rhetoric than reality.

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