GOP Leaders Urge Trump to Work With Congress on Syria

The Republican chairmen of foreign relations panels in the House and Senate on Thursday advised the Trump administration to work with Congress on its Syria strategy going forward, after the administration launched a military strike on a Syrian airfield.

The strike featured more than 50 cruise missiles and targeted the same airfield that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad used to carry out chemical attacks against his own people Tuesday. The Pentagon said the military strike was a "proportional response" to Assad's chemical attack.

Senate Foreign Relations chairman Bob Corker and House Foreign Affairs chairman Ed Royce said the strike was long awaited and decisive, but urged the administration to engage with Congress on such matters in coming months. Trump did not seek congressional approval for the strike. The administration reportedly briefed some members of Congress on the strike.

"Assad has been caught red-handed carrying out another abhorrent chemical attack, and the administration has taken a measured response," Royce said in a statement. "Moving ahead, the administration must work with Congress and lay out clear policy goals for Syria and the region."

"I applaud President Trump for taking decisive action following the latest chemical weapons attack," said Corker in a statement. "As we move forward, it will be important for the administration to engage with Congress and clearly communicate its full strategy to the American people."