Oswego's Congressman Reacts to Missile Strike On Syrian Air Base

Congressman Randy Hultgren called the missile strike on a Syrian airfield "measured, targeted and directed at the military installation from which Assad’s chemical attacks originated," in a statement released by his office on Friday. Rep. Hultgren condemned the "heinous use of chemical weapons against civilians" that has been widely attributed to the Syrian military. He also noted that "any further military response should be reviewed by Congress."

On Thursday, two U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean fired 59 GPS-guided Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles at a Syrian airfield believed to be responsible for a chemical weapon attack against civilians. The following is the congressman's complete statement: "I condemn Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s heinous use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians, including children who were left dead, maimed and gasping for air. His wicked actions are a blatant violation of his agreement to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal—and they have consequences. The U.S. response was measured, targeted and directed at the military installation from which Assad’s chemical attacks originated. Any further military response should be reviewed by Congress. Clearly, the 2013 Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons agreed upon by the United States and the Russian Federation, with Syria’s cooperation, has been violated. Investigators charged with monitoring that agreement—and Russia, for that matter—need to provide answers for why it has failed, and what they will do to ensure compliance going forward. The Syrian civil conflict has resulted in unbelievable carnage, human rights violations and suffering—it must come to an end. There are no easy solutions, but Assad must be held accountable, and his victims must have justice." Rep. Randy Hultgren is a Republican who has served in Congress since 2011. His district includes Oswego, Yorkville, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Plainfield

Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles launched from the USS Porter via Youtube

Photo: MEDITERRANEAN SEA (April 7, 2017) USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile April 7, 2017. USS Ross, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)