"syria"

Both of Alaska’s U.S. senators have joined the chorus of Republicans criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from northern Syria.

The military strikes were ordered by President Trump in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on April 7 by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad on its citizens.

The U.S. has relied on legislation from 2001 to justify its use of force against ISIS. But a bipartisan group of representatives say it’s outdated, and argue it’s time for a debate.

The strike was requested by America’s partners “who had identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position,” U.S. Central Command said Thursday.

The White House released a declassified report on the attack in Khan Shaykhun. It says the U.S. is “confident” Syria’s Bashar Assad was responsible and that Russia is attempting to deflect blame.

Russia blamed the strike on “speculations on children’s photos.” At the U.N., Ambassador Nikki Haley said, “The moral stain of the Assad regime could no longer go unanswered.”

U.S. officials said that more than 50 Tomahawk missile strikes were carried out against a single Syrian air base from the USS Porter and Ross in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey identified the gunman as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old riot police officer who shouted, “Don’t forget Aleppo!” Seven people were arrested Tuesday, and one was later released.

President Obama gave one of his final news conferences as president on Friday. Here, NPR reporters provide context on five different Obama quotes.

With the fall of Omar Bin Abdul Aziz hospital, the remaining civilians have nowhere to seek treatment for injuries or illness.