Senator Collins’ Statement on Air Strikes Against Syria

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement following last night’s military action taken against the Syrian regime:

“Last night’s use of precision missile strikes was a justified and proportional response to Bashar al-Assad’s ruthless use of chemical weapons in Duoma. 

“Despite a diplomatic agreement brokered by Russia in 2013 requiring the destruction of all of Syria’s chemical weapons and multiple warnings against their use, Assad has continued to deploy chemical weapons to murder his own people, inflict terror, and keep his brutal regime in power.  Furthermore, Assad’s appalling and indiscriminate use of these weapons puts at risk the approximately 2,000 U.S. troops who are on the ground in Syria to combat ISIS. 

“The President and his national security team’s decisive action was an appropriate response to this barbaric attack, and the close coordination with Great Britain and France sends a message that the international community will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons.  I commend the brave members of our armed forces who carried out this mission.”