Changes

After Assad used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 59 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref name="foxnews.com"/> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Russia was given a two-minute warning, and claim to have shot down 36 missiles, giving the Russian missile defense system a 61% effectiveness rate under live fire combat conditions.<ref>http://fortune.com/2017/04/07/syria-airstrike-anti-missile/ </ref> Trump defended his missile strike by reference to [[God]]: "No child of God should ever suffer such horror" as caused by Syria's chemical weapons attack injuring civilians.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN1782S0</ref>

After Assad used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 59 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref name="foxnews.com"/> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Russia was given a two-minute warning, and claim to have shot down 36 missiles, giving the Russian missile defense system a 61% effectiveness rate under live fire combat conditions.<ref>http://fortune.com/2017/04/07/syria-airstrike-anti-missile/ </ref> Trump defended his missile strike by reference to [[God]]: "No child of God should ever suffer such horror" as caused by Syria's chemical weapons attack injuring civilians.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN1782S0</ref>

In July 2017 it was reported that the Trump Administration had ended a CIA program to arm "moderate" Syrian rebels, an ineffective program that had been criticized by conservatives.<ref>Multiple references:

In July 2017 it was reported that the Trump Administration had ended a CIA program to arm "moderate" Syrian rebels, an ineffective program that had been criticized by conservatives. It should be noted that the anti-ISIS faction the [[Free Syrian Army]] still receives aid at Al Tanf, where they have been key in keeping the border crossing with Jorden safe from Islamists, including Hezbollah.  <ref>Multiple references:

*Bennett, Jonah (July 19, 2017). [https://dailycaller.com/2017/07/19/trump-kills-covert-cia-program-to-arm-syrian-rebels/ Trump Kills Covert CIA Program To Arm Syrian Rebels]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.

*Bennett, Jonah (July 19, 2017). [https://dailycaller.com/2017/07/19/trump-kills-covert-cia-program-to-arm-syrian-rebels/ Trump Kills Covert CIA Program To Arm Syrian Rebels]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.

*Hayward, John (July 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/07/19/trump-ends-obamas-covert-cia-program-arm-train-syrian-rebels/ Report: Trump Ending Obama’s Covert CIA Program to Arm and Train Syrian Rebels]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.

*Hayward, John (July 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/07/19/trump-ends-obamas-covert-cia-program-arm-train-syrian-rebels/ Report: Trump Ending Obama’s Covert CIA Program to Arm and Train Syrian Rebels]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.